2024
Bacterial flagella hijack type IV pili proteins to control motility
Liu X, Tachiyama S, Zhou X, Mathias R, Bonny S, Khan M, Xin Y, Roujeinikova A, Liu J, Ottemann K. Bacterial flagella hijack type IV pili proteins to control motility. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2317452121. PMID: 38236729, PMCID: PMC10823254, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317452121.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
The Bacterial Flagellar Motor: Insights Into Torque Generation, Rotational Switching, and Mechanosensing
Guo S, Liu J. The Bacterial Flagellar Motor: Insights Into Torque Generation, Rotational Switching, and Mechanosensing. Frontiers In Microbiology 2022, 13: 911114. PMID: 35711788, PMCID: PMC9195833, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.911114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStator complexStator unitsFlagellar motorStructural biology perspectiveBacterial flagellar motorRotary nanomachineBiology perspectiveAccessory proteinsStructural insightsBacterial motilitySpecific nichesMechanistic basisHost cellsDistinct conformationsC-ringRotational switchingBacteriaAccessory moleculesMotilityFliLMechanosensingComplexesNicheStructural remodelingCytoplasmFliL ring enhances the function of periplasmic flagella
Guo S, Xu H, Chang Y, Motaleb MA, Liu J. FliL ring enhances the function of periplasmic flagella. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2022, 119: e2117245119. PMID: 35254893, PMCID: PMC8931381, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117245119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFlagellar motorBacterial motilityCryo-electron tomographyStator complexFlagellar proteinsMutant cellsPeriplasmic flagellaActive conformationSitu structureFascinating questionsSupramolecular complexesMotilityComplexesMotBOptimal functionFliLFlagellaIon fluxProteinFunctionAssemblyRemodelingCellsConformationBorrelia
2021
Characterization of the Flagellar Collar Reveals Structural Plasticity Essential for Spirochete Motility
Chang Y, Xu H, Motaleb MA, Liu J. Characterization of the Flagellar Collar Reveals Structural Plasticity Essential for Spirochete Motility. MBio 2021, 12: e02494-21. PMID: 34809456, PMCID: PMC8609358, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02494-21.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferiPeriplasmic flagellaSpirochete motilityCryo-electron tomographySpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiRemarkable structural plasticityComplex host environmentSerious human diseasesFlagellar assemblyCollar ComplexMultiprotein complexesFlagellar collarFlagellar motorDistinct functionsDistinct morphologiesRemarkable plasticityHuman diseasesBorrelia burgdorferiHost environmentFlagellaStructural plasticityRemarkable groupMotilityProteinHost connective tissue
2020
Molecular mechanism for rotational switching of the bacterial flagellar motor
Chang Y, Zhang K, Carroll BL, Zhao X, Charon NW, Norris SJ, Motaleb MA, Li C, Liu J. Molecular mechanism for rotational switching of the bacterial flagellar motor. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2020, 27: 1041-1047. PMID: 32895555, PMCID: PMC8129871, DOI: 10.1038/s41594-020-0497-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBacterial flagellar motorSwitch proteinFlagellar motorResponse regulator CheYRotational switchingProton motive forceSwitch complexMolecular mechanismsPhosphorylated formMajor remodelingConformational changesMotive forceModel systemProteinBorrelia burgdorferiCheY3CheYMutantsTorque generatorFLIMInteractsCheXCW rotationMechanismRemodelingIn Situ Structure of the Vibrio Polar Flagellum Reveals a Distinct Outer Membrane Complex and Its Specific Interaction with the Stator
Zhu S, Nishikino T, Takekawa N, Terashima H, Kojima S, Imada K, Homma M, Liu J. In Situ Structure of the Vibrio Polar Flagellum Reveals a Distinct Outer Membrane Complex and Its Specific Interaction with the Stator. Journal Of Bacteriology 2020, 202: 10.1128/jb.00592-19. PMID: 31767780, PMCID: PMC6989802, DOI: 10.1128/jb.00592-19.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein-protein interactionsCryo-electron tomographyStator unitsFlagellar rotationDetailed protein-protein interactionsUnique protein-protein interactionsGram-negative marine bacteriumPolar sheathed flagellumBasal body structureHigh-speed motilityBacterial flagellar motorLarge conformational changesSpecific interactionsFirst structural evidencePeriplasmic domainPolar flagellumFlagellar motorPeptidoglycan layerMembrane complexT ringMarine bacteriumBacterial flagellaGenetic analysisDetailed structural informationSheathed flagellum
2017
Molecular architecture of the sheathed polar flagellum in Vibrio alginolyticus
Zhu S, Nishikino T, Hu B, Kojima S, Homma M, Liu J. Molecular architecture of the sheathed polar flagellum in Vibrio alginolyticus. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2017, 114: 10966-10971. PMID: 28973904, PMCID: PMC5642721, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1712489114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPolar flagellumOuter membraneIntact cellsFlagellar motor componentsSheathed polar flagellumRod-shaped bacteriaGram-negative rod-shaped bacteriaLimited structural informationPeriplasmic structureSubtomogram analysisFlagellar rotationFlagellar motorGenetic approachesUnsheathed flagellaCryoelectron tomographySwimming motilitySheathed flagellumMajor remodelingFlagellaRing-like structureMolecular levelDistinct motilityFast motilityMembranous sheathLength variationIn Situ Structural Analysis of the Spirochetal Flagellar Motor by Cryo-Electron Tomography
Zhu S, Qin Z, Wang J, Morado DR, Liu J. In Situ Structural Analysis of the Spirochetal Flagellar Motor by Cryo-Electron Tomography. Methods In Molecular Biology 2017, 1593: 229-242. PMID: 28389958, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6927-2_18.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCryo-electron tomographyFlagellar motorIntact flagellar motorBacterial flagellar motorMolecular machinerySitu structural analysisExtensive structural analysisMolecular machinesLarge complexesStructural analysisUnprecedented detailBorrelia burgdorferiStructural determinationMachineryOrganismsBacteriaPowerful techniqueCellsComplexesBurgdorferi
2016
Imaging the Motility and Chemotaxis Machineries in Helicobacter pylori by Cryo-Electron Tomography
Qin Z, Lin WT, Zhu S, Franco AT, Liu J. Imaging the Motility and Chemotaxis Machineries in Helicobacter pylori by Cryo-Electron Tomography. Journal Of Bacteriology 2016, 199: 10.1128/jb.00695-16. PMID: 27849173, PMCID: PMC5237115, DOI: 10.1128/jb.00695-16.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCryo-electron tomographyChemotaxis arraysUnipolar flagellaBacterial pathogensFlagella-driven motilityMultiple unipolar flagellaNovel structural insightsFlagellar assemblyChemotaxis machineryFlagellar poleAssembly intermediatesFlagellar rotationFlagellar motorCell envelopeStructural insightsMembrane sheathSheathed flagellumMolecular mechanismsUnique motilityH. pylori cellsFlagellaSitu structureHigh-viscosity environmentsPylori cellsMotility