Sorting of Early and Late Flagellar Subunits After Docking at the Membrane ATPase of the Type III Export Pathway
2007

Sorting of Flagellar Subunits in Bacteria

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Stafford Graham P., Evans Lewis D.B., Krumscheid Rita, Dhillon Paraminder, Fraser Gillian M., Hughes Colin

Primary Institution: Cambridge University Department of Pathology

Hypothesis

Are subunit docking and sorting separable events in the type III export pathway?

Conclusion

The study shows that early and late flagellar subunits converge at the FliI ATPase before being sorted for export.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study indicates that both early and late subunits can accumulate at the membrane ATPase.
  • Chaperoned late subunits engage the FliI ATPase before sorting.
  • The N-terminal regions of subunits contain sufficient information to determine sorting.

Takeaway

Bacteria have a special way to build their flagella, and this study found that the parts are sorted at a specific point before they are sent out.

Methodology

The export pathway was manipulated in vivo to observe the sorting of early and late flagellar subunits.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.jmb.2007.09.080

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