Structure and Mechanism of the Flagellar Rotary Motor
David F. Blair
from: Pili and Flagella: Current Research and Future Trends (Edited by: Ken Jarrell). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2009)
Abstract
The flagellar motor is a biochemical machine that transforms energy stored in the membrane ion gradient into the mechanical work of rotation, at a high rate of speed and with great efficiency. Discrete steps in rotation have recently been detected, attaining a long-sought goal of biophysical measurement and opening a path to detailed physiological dissection of the mechano-chemical cycle of the motor. Structural and biochemical studies of the elements that function in torque generation have provided a fairly detailed picture of the rotor and have begun to reveal crucial features of the stator. A molecular-level understanding of the mechanism appears almost within reach read more ...
