title: Growth mechanism of the bacterial flagellar filament.
abstract: The growth of the bacterial flagellar filament occurs at its distal end by self-assembly of flagellin transported from the cytoplasm through the narrow central channel of the flagellum. The cap at the growing end is essential for its growth, remaining stably attached while permitting the flagellin insertion. The structure of the cap-filament analyzed by electron cryomicroscopy suggested a cap rotation mechanism to promote the flagellin self-assembly.
authors.affiliation: Protonic NanoMachine Project, ERATO, JST, Seika, Kyoto, Japan. yone@npn.jst.go.jp
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yonekura
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maki-Yonekura
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Namba
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D005407:Flagella / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005408:Flagellin / Q000378:metabolism; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005408:Flagellin; C076733:FlaD protein, Bacteria