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Spatial arrangement of several flagellins within bacterial flagella improves motility in different environments

Author

Listed:
  • Marco J. Kühn

    (Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen)

  • Felix K. Schmidt

    (Fachbereich Physik und LOEWE Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg)

  • Nicola E. Farthing

    (University of York, Heslington
    University of York, Heslington)

  • Florian M. Rossmann

    (Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen)

  • Bina Helm

    (Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen)

  • Laurence G. Wilson

    (University of York, Heslington)

  • Bruno Eckhardt

    (Fachbereich Physik und LOEWE Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg)

  • Kai M. Thormann

    (Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen)

Abstract

Bacterial flagella are helical proteinaceous fibers, composed of the protein flagellin, that confer motility to many bacterial species. The genomes of about half of all flagellated species include more than one flagellin gene, for reasons mostly unknown. Here we show that two flagellins (FlaA and FlaB) are spatially arranged in the polar flagellum of Shewanella putrefaciens, with FlaA being more abundant close to the motor and FlaB in the remainder of the flagellar filament. Observations of swimming trajectories and numerical simulations demonstrate that this segmentation improves motility in a range of environmental conditions, compared to mutants with single-flagellin filaments. In particular, it facilitates screw-like motility, which enhances cellular spreading through obstructed environments. Similar mechanisms may apply to other bacterial species and may explain the maintenance of multiple flagellins to form the flagellar filament.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco J. Kühn & Felix K. Schmidt & Nicola E. Farthing & Florian M. Rossmann & Bina Helm & Laurence G. Wilson & Bruno Eckhardt & Kai M. Thormann, 2018. "Spatial arrangement of several flagellins within bacterial flagella improves motility in different environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07802-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07802-w
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