Archaellum Structure Graphical Abstract (IMAGE)

DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Archaellum Structure Graphical Abstract

Caption

Individual FlaI proteins have two units, bases and points, connected by a flexible linker. When bound to ATP they assemble a six-member crown, which attaches to the base of the FlaJ protein in the cell membrane. When an individual FlaI proteon hydrolyzes ATP and releases a phosphate, its point moves up and creates a space beneath the archaellum filament, where FlaB subunits can join the filament’s base, causing it to grow. The same changes in conformation drive rotation, but the exact mechanism is still be learned.

Credit

Reindl et al, Berkeley Lab and MPI

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