From molecular evolution to biobricks and synthetic modules: a lesson by the bacterial flagellum

Abstract

The bacterial flagellum is a motility structure and represents one of the most sophisticated nanomachines in the biosphere. Here, we review the current knowledge on the flagellum, its architecture with respect to differences between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and other species-specific variations (e.g. the flagellar filament protein, Flagellin). We further focus on the mechanism by which the two nucleotide-binding proteins FlhF and FlhG ensure the correct reproduction of flagella place and number (the flagellation pattern). We will finish the review with an overview of current biotechnological applications, and a perspective of how understanding flagella can contribute to developing modules for synthetic approaches.

Keywords:

• flagellum
• GTPase
• ATPase
• macromolecular assembly
• synthetic
• biotechnology
• evolution

Acknowledgments

The LOEWE program of the state of Hesse/Germany supported this work (to G.B.). J.S. is a fellow of the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (FCI). The authors thank M. Rakwalska-Bange, Milena Stephan, and Felix Dempwolff for critical reading of the manuscript. We apologize to all authors whose work could not be cited due to space restrictions.

The authors declare no financial conflict of interest.