A Delicate Nanoscale Motor Made by Nature—The Bacterial Flagellar Motor

Xue, Ruidong; Ma, Qi; Baker, Matthew A. B.; Bai, Fan

doi:10.1002/advs.201500129

Cited by 25 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…These subunits pass through the flagellum’s nascent central channel and crystallize at its tip, extending the growing flagellum, which ultimately reaches about 3-10 times the length of the cell body [15]. Harnessing the transmembrane electrochemical proton motive force (PMF), each bacterial flagellar motor (BFM) [18, 19] quickly rotates its flagellum, subsequently propelling the bacterial cell body at a speed of 15-100 µm/s [20]. Using cutting-edge biophysical methods, the torque-speed relationship [21-25], stepping [26], and switching [27, 28] of the BFM have been investigated.…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic production and loss of flagellar filaments during the bacterial life cycle

Zhuang¹,

Guo

et al. 2019

Preprint

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23Bacterial flagella are large extracellular protein organelles that drive bacteria motility 24 and taxis in response to environmental changes. Previous research has focused mostly 25 on describing the flagellar assembly, its rotation speed and power output. However, 26 whether flagella are permanent cell structures and, if not, the circumstances and timing 27 of their production and loss during the bacterial life cycle remain poorly understood. 28 Here we used the single polar flagellum of Vibrio alginolyticus as our model and, using 29 in vivo fluorescence imaging, revealed that the percentage of flagellated bacteria (PFB) 30 in a population varies substantially across different bacterial growth phases. In the 31 early-exponential phase, the PFB increases rapidly in respect to incubation time, mostly 32 through widespread flagella production. In the mid-exponential phase, the PFB peaks 33 at around 76% and the partitioning of flagella between the daughter cells is 1:1 and 34 strictly at the old poles. After entering the stationary phase, the PFB starts to decline, 35 mainly because daughter cells stop making new flagella after cell division. Interestingly, 36 we discovered that bacteria can actively abandon flagella after prolonged stationary 37 culturing, though cell division has long been suspended. Lack of glucose was found to 38 be a major factor promoting flagellar disassembly. We also revealed that the active loss 39 of flagella was initiated by breakage in the rod connecting the extracellular filament to 40 the basal body formed by MS-and C-rings. Our results highlight the dynamic 41 production and loss of flagellar filaments during the bacterial life cycle.42 43 Main Text 44 3 The flagellum of a flagellated bacterium is a remarkable structure consisting of a 45 reversible rotary motor, a short proximal hook, and a thin helical filament [1]. Since the 46 flagellar system was discovered, this delicate nanomachine has attracted much research 47 and, while some aspects of the flagellar system have been well studied, others have not 48 [2-6]. Meanwhile, flagella are not only critical for bacterial motility, their constituent 49 flagellins are also important antigens that can stimulate both the innate inflammatory 50 response and the development of adaptive immunity [7-9]. Two specialized receptors 51 on immune cells, cell surface Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) [10-12] and intracellular 52 receptor Ipaf [13, 14], are responsible for recognizing flagellins as a warning of a 53 pathogenic bacterial invasion. Knowing when and how bacteria produce and lose 54 flagella, especially under stressed conditions, is valuable for understanding the way 55 bacteria either trigger or evade host immunity surveillance, a central topic in pathogen-56 host interactions. 57 Previous research has shown that bacterial flagella are hollow protein cylinders 58 with 20 nm outer and 2 nm inner diameters [15]. A flagellum is assembled from the 59 inside out, beginning with a basal body embedded in the cell membrane and...

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Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic production and loss of flagellar filaments during the bacterial life cycle

Zhuang¹,

Guo

et al. 2019

Preprint

Self Cite

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“…Obviously,with increasing concentration of the signaling molecule the periods of translation become longer and the "tumbling" periods shorter,w ith the result being an overall translation of the species in the direction following the gradient of the attractant. [12] In the case of artificial swimmers, however, there is no such complex propellant system present. [11] These systems use only the temporal component of the gradient of the signaling species because of their limited size.Amore advanced mechanism of chemotaxis is employed by eukaryotic cells.O wing to their significantly larger sizecompared to bacteria-these organisms are capable of sensing spatial differences in concentration of an attractant or ar epellent in addition to the temporal component, often helping the detection by alteration of their shape for example, via formation of various protrusions or "tentacles".…”

Section: The Mechanisms Of Chemotaxismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending on the direction of the flagellum (or flagella) rotation, however,t he translational motion can be initiated or stalled and replaced by the "tumbling" periods. [12] In the case of artificial swimmers, however, there is no such complex propellant system present. These micro/nano machines are in most cases propelled by simple chemical reactions involving catalytic decomposition Preparation of autonomous chemotactic micro-and nanomachines represents one of the most difficult challenges of modern materials science.T oconstruct ad evice mimicking the behavior of many microorganisms,w hichevolved their chemotactic abilities during the millennia of evolution, places extreme demands on the imagination and abilities of researchers.H owever,w ith the chemotactic devices in hand, many novel and interesting applications of micromachines could be implemented.…”

Section: Artificial Chemotactic Micromachines Propelled By Chemical Rmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemotactic Micro‐ and Nanodevices

Plutnar

Pumera

2018

Angew Chem Int Ed

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Preparation of autonomous chemotactic micro- and nanomachines represents one of the most difficult challenges of modern materials science. To construct a device mimicking the behavior of many microorganisms, which evolved their chemotactic abilities during the millennia of evolution, places extreme demands on the imagination and abilities of researchers. However, with the chemotactic devices in hand, many novel and interesting applications of micromachines could be implemented. The introduction of an autonomous navigation, independent of the external control with electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic field is crucial for applications in environmental remediation and might be advantageous in medical applications. This Minireview summarizes the development in the field of chemotactic micro- and nanomachines, describes the trends in their construction, and compares the different approaches to their construction considering the areas of possible application of the devices.

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“…Bei Bakterien wird die translatorische Bewegung durch die Rotation einer Geißelzelle oder eines Komplexes von Geißelzellen angetrieben ( E. coli , S. marcescens ). Allerdings kann je nach Richtung der Geißelzellrotation die translatorische Bewegung initiiert oder angehalten und durch Taumelphasen abgelöst werden . Im Fall künstlicher Schwimmer gibt es jedoch kein solches komplexes Antriebssystem.…”

Section: Künstliche Chemotaktische Mikromaschinen Die Durch Chemischunclassified

Chemotaktische Mikro‐ und Nanomaschinen

Plutnar¹,

Pumera²

2018

Angewandte Chemie

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Die Herstellung von autonomen chemotaktischen Mikro‐ und Nanomaschinen stellt eine der schwierigsten Herausforderungen der modernen Materialwissenschaften dar. Das Konstruieren einer Funktionseinheit, die das Verhalten von Mikroorganismen nachahmt, die ihre chemotaktischen Eigenschaften über Jahrtausende der Evolution erworben haben, stellt hohe Ansprüche an die Vorstellungskraft und die Fähigkeiten von Forschern. Trotz allem konnten mit den aktuell verfügbaren chemotaktischen Funktionseinheiten viele neuartige und interessante Anwendungen von Mikromaschinen implementiert werden. Die Einführung einer autonomen Navigation, die von einer externen Steuerung durch elektrische, magnetische oder elektromagnetische Felder unabhängig ist, ist zentral entscheidend für Anwendungen in der Umweltsanierung und könnte Vorteile für medizinische Anwendungen bringen. Dieser Kurzaufsatz fasst die Entwicklung im Gebiet der chemotaktischen Mikro‐ und Nanomaschinen zusammen, beschreibt die aktuellen Trends der Herstellungsverfahren und vergleicht die unterschiedlichen Konstruktionsansätze mit Blick auf mögliche Anwendungen.

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A Delicate Nanoscale Motor Made by Nature—The Bacterial Flagellar Motor

Cited by 25 publications

References 66 publications

Dynamic production and loss of flagellar filaments during the bacterial life cycle

Dynamic production and loss of flagellar filaments during the bacterial life cycle

Chemotactic Micro‐ and Nanodevices

Chemotaktische Mikro‐ und Nanomaschinen

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