Dynamic conformational changes that regulate the energy-converting unit

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The PomA/PomB complex, that functions as an energy-converting stator unit in the bacterial flagellar motor, becomes functional when installed into the appropriate place around the rotor. In the functional stator, it is believed that a conformational change in the periplasmic region of PomB is induced to anchor it and simultaneously to activate ion conduction activity of the stator. This study aims to detect such a conformational change using the fluorescent probe and the purified PomA/B complex reconstituted into the liposome. We are still on the way to establish the analyzing system, but we greatly improved the overproduction and purification procedure for the PomA/B complex, so that we could systematically screen conditions to reconstitute the functional stator complex to the liposome. We also succeeded in narrowing down the region where the conformational change occurs, by using the systematic disulfide bridge formation analysis.