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Structure of the bacterial flagellar hook and implication for the molecular universal joint mechanism

Author

Listed:
  • Fadel A. Samatey

    (Dynamic NanoMachine Project, ICORP, JST
    Osaka University
    Protonic NanoMachine Project, ERATO, JST)

  • Hideyuki Matsunami

    (Dynamic NanoMachine Project, ICORP, JST
    Osaka University
    Protonic NanoMachine Project, ERATO, JST)

  • Katsumi Imada

    (Dynamic NanoMachine Project, ICORP, JST
    Osaka University
    Protonic NanoMachine Project, ERATO, JST)

  • Shigehiro Nagashima

    (Dynamic NanoMachine Project, ICORP, JST
    Protonic NanoMachine Project, ERATO, JST)

  • Tanvir R. Shaikh

    (Brandeis University
    Wadsworth Center)

  • Dennis R. Thomas

    (Brandeis University)

  • James Z. Chen

    (Brandeis University)

  • David J. DeRosier

    (Brandeis University)

  • Akio Kitao

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Keiichi Namba

    (Dynamic NanoMachine Project, ICORP, JST
    Osaka University
    Protonic NanoMachine Project, ERATO, JST)

Abstract

The bacterial flagellum is a motile organelle, and the flagellar hook is a short, highly curved tubular structure that connects the flagellar motor to the long filament acting as a helical propeller. The hook is made of about 120 copies of a single protein, FlgE, and its function as a nano-sized universal joint is essential for dynamic and efficient bacterial motility and taxis. It transmits the motor torque to the helical propeller over a wide range of its orientation for swimming and tumbling. Here we report a partial atomic model of the hook obtained by X-ray crystallography of FlgE31, a major proteolytic fragment of FlgE lacking unfolded terminal regions, and by electron cryomicroscopy and three-dimensional helical image reconstruction of the hook. The model reveals the intricate molecular interactions and a plausible switching mechanism for the hook to be flexible in bending but rigid against twisting for its universal joint function.

Suggested Citation

  • Fadel A. Samatey & Hideyuki Matsunami & Katsumi Imada & Shigehiro Nagashima & Tanvir R. Shaikh & Dennis R. Thomas & James Z. Chen & David J. DeRosier & Akio Kitao & Keiichi Namba, 2004. "Structure of the bacterial flagellar hook and implication for the molecular universal joint mechanism," Nature, Nature, vol. 431(7012), pages 1062-1068, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:431:y:2004:i:7012:d:10.1038_nature02997
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02997
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    Cited by:

    1. Imke Spöring & Vincent A Martinez & Christian Hotz & Jana Schwarz-Linek & Keara L Grady & Josué M Nava-Sedeño & Teun Vissers & Hanna M Singer & Manfred Rohde & Carole Bourquin & Haralampos Hatzikirou , 2018. "Hook length of the bacterial flagellum is optimized for maximal stability of the flagellar bundle," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-19, September.

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