Structure/function relationship and cell surface localization mechanism of bacterial flagelin

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Flagellin, a flagellar protein, in a bacterium Sphingomonas sp. A1 does not participate in the formation of flagella, localizes on the cell surface, and shows highly potent capability to bind alginate, an acidic polysaccharide present in brown sea algae. To elucidate these characteristic properties of flagellin, three-dimensional structures of flagellin, flagellin-anchoring protein on the cell surface, and peptidoglycan-hydrolyzing enzyme were determined and their relationships between structure and function clarified. Based on these results, the biological significance of flagellin were discussed from the standpoint of sensor for alginate, cell surface structure, and molecular evolution.