Roles of the Escherichia coli proteins FliG, FliM, and FliN in flagellar rotation

许多细菌是由可逆的旋转马达推动的， 从质子动力梯度中得到旋转的能量。 之间 构建一个功能齐全的马达所需的许多蛋白质， 有五个，称为MotA，MotB，FliG，FliM和FliN，它们是最常见的 很可能与扭矩产生有关。 FliG、FliM和FliN 对于组装和确定方向也很重要 这些蛋白质被称为“开关复合物”蛋白质。 的角色 在扭矩产生中的开关复合体蛋白质将是 利用分子遗传学， 零部件和电机性能的详细测量， 评估后果。 受控制的、低水平的 还将检测这些蛋白质的表达。 这一战略 与以前研究MotA和MotB时使用的方法相似。 的 这些研究的长期目标是了解，在 分子水平，鞭毛马达如何将化学能 转化为机械能。 理解能量机制 转化是生物能量学中的中心问题。 还因为 运动性在某些细菌感染中起作用， 了解鞭毛马达可能会有临床意义， 意义

Many bacteria are propelled by reversible rotary motors which derive the energy for rotation from a protonmotive gradient. Among the many proteins required to build a fully functional motor, there are five, called MotA, MotB, FliG, FliM, and FliN, that are most likely to be involved in torque generation. FliG, FliM, and FliN are also important for assembly and for determining the direction of rotation; these are called "switch-complex" proteins. The roles of the switch-complex proteins in torque generation will be examined, using molecular genetics to make mutations in these components, and detailed measurements of motor performance to assess the consequences. The effects of controlled, low-level expression of theses proteins also will be examined. This strategy is similar to that used previously to study MotA and MotB. The long-term objective of these studies is to understand, at the molecular level, how the flagellar motor converts chemical energy into mechanical energy. Understanding mechanisms of energy conversion is a central concern in bioenergetics. Also since motility plays a role in certain bacterial infections, understanding the flagellar motor is likely to have clinical significance.