Collaboration of FlhF and FlhG to regulate polar-flagella number and localization in Vibrio alginolyticus.
Precise regulation of the number and placement of flagella is critical for the mono-polar-flagellated bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus to swim efficiently. We have shown previously that the number of polar flagella is positively regulated by FlhF and negatively regulated by FlhG. We now show that DeltaflhF cells are non-flagellated as are most DeltaflhFG cells; however, some of the DeltaflhFG cells have several flagella at lateral positions. We found that FlhF-GFP was localized at the flagellated pole, and its polar localization was seen more intensely in DeltaflhFG cells. On the other hand, most of the FlhG-GFP was diffused throughout the cytoplasm, although some was localized at the pole. To investigate the FlhF-FlhG interaction, immunoprecipitation was performed by using an anti-FlhF antibody, and FlhG co-precipitated with FlhF. From these results we propose a model in which FlhF localization at the pole determines polar location and production of a flagellum, FlhG interacts with FlhF to prevent FlhF from localizing at the pole, and thus FlhG negatively regulates flagellar number in V. alginolyticus cells.
Kusumoto
Akiko
A
Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Shinohara
Akari
A
Soft Nano-Machine Project, CREST, JST, Japan.|Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Terashima
Hiroyuki
H
Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Kojima
Seiji
S
Soft Nano-Machine Project, CREST, JST, Japan.|Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Yakushi
Toshiharu
T
Soft Nano-Machine Project, CREST, JST, Japan.|Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Homma
Michio
M
Soft Nano-Machine Project, CREST, JST, Japan.|Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005407:Flagella / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008124:Locomotion; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008954:Models, Biological; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D044149:Vibrio alginolyticus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C078317:flhF protein, Bacteria; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins