title: Synthesis and structure of Caulobacter crescentus flagella.
abstract: During the normal cell cycle of Caulobacter crescentus, flagella are released into the culture fluid as swarmer cells differentiate into stalked cells. The released flagellum is composed of a filament, hook, and rod. The molecular weight of purified flagellin (subunit of flagella filament) is 25,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The formation of a flagellum opposite the stalk has been observed by microscope during the differentiation of a stalked cell in preparation for cell division. By pulsing synchronized cultures with (14)C-amino acids it has been demonstrated that the synthesis of flagellin occurs approximately 30 to 40 min before cell division. Flagellin, therefore, is synthesized at a discrete time in the cell cycle and is assembled into flagella at a specific site on the cell. A mutant of C. crescentus that fails to synthesize flagellin has been isolated.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002455:Cell Division; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005407:Flagella / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009024:Morphogenesis; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013997:Time Factors; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D014316:Tritium; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate