title: Building a flagellum outside the bacterial cell.
abstract: Flagella, the helical propellers that extend from the bacterial surface, are a paradigm for how complex molecular machines can be built outside the living cell. Their assembly requires ordered export of thousands of structural subunits across the cell membrane and this is achieved by a type III export machinery located at the flagellum base, after which subunits transit through a narrow channel at the core of the flagellum to reach the assembly site at the tip of the nascent structure, up to 20μm from the cell surface. Here we review recent findings that provide new insights into flagellar export and assembly, and a new and unanticipated mechanism for constant rate flagellum growth.
authors: University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors: Lewis D B
authors: LD
authors: Evans
authors: University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Hughes
authors: University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK. Electronic address: gmf25@cam.ac.uk.
authors: Gillian M
authors: GM
authors: Fraser
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005407:Flagella / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins
keywords: bacterial flagellum; cell motility; chain mechanism; protein export; rotary nanomotor; type III secretion system