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
FlhF regulates the number and configuration of periplasmic flagella in Borrelia burgdorferi
Zhang K, He J, Catalano C, Guo Y, Liu J, Li C. FlhF regulates the number and configuration of periplasmic flagella in Borrelia burgdorferi. Molecular Microbiology 2020, 113: 1122-1139. PMID: 32039533, PMCID: PMC8085991, DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14482.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeriplasmic flagellaCell polesM-ring proteinLyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferiCryo-electron tomography studiesSignal recognition particlePolar localizationB. burgdorferiFlagellar assemblyRecognition particleMutant cellsFlagellar numberProtein stabilityFlagellar patternBorrelia burgdorferiFlhFEnzymatic activityBiochemical analysisMechanistic insightsBacterium Borrelia burgdorferiFlagellaPF numberBacteriaMidcellDetailed characterization
2019
In Situ Structures of Polar and Lateral Flagella Revealed by Cryo-Electron Tomography
Zhu S, Schniederberend M, Zhitnitsky D, Jain R, Galán JE, Kazmierczak BI, Liu J. In Situ Structures of Polar and Lateral Flagella Revealed by Cryo-Electron Tomography. Journal Of Bacteriology 2019, 201: 10.1128/jb.00117-19. PMID: 31010901, PMCID: PMC6560136, DOI: 10.1128/jb.00117-19.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCryo-electron tomographyBacterial flagellaFlagellar assemblyPolar flagellumPeritrichous flagellaSerovar TyphimuriumSpecies-specific featuresBacterial pathogensOuter membrane complexSelf-assembling nanomachineFlagellar systemFlagellar structureFlagellar numberSubtomogram averagingMembrane complexLateral flagellaStructural basisDistinct flagellaMolecular machinesFlagellaSitu structureModel systemPseudomonasTyphimuriumRange of variation
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