Structural biology of H. pylori flagellum biogenesis

本研究将探讨幽门螺杆菌鞭毛生物发生相关蛋白质的三维结构。一组蛋白质参与该过程的整体调节，而另一组蛋白质特异性地促进鞭毛组分穿过细菌细胞膜的分泌。螺杆菌中的鞭毛生物发生比其他细菌了解得更少，但具有一些非常有趣的功能和调节方面，使其成为理想的研究对象。此外，已知幽门螺杆菌运动性是细菌定殖和持续存在于人胃粘液衬里中所必需的。因此，更好地了解鞭毛在这种生物体中的生物发生功能最终可能会导致对细菌干预的深入了解。

This proposal will investigate the three-dimensional structures of proteins involved in flagellum biogenesis in the human stomach pathogen Helicobacter pylori. One group of proteins is involved in the overall regulation of the process, whereas the other group of proteins specifically facilitate secretion of flagellum components across the bacterial cell membrane. Flagellum biogenesis in Helicobacter is less well understood than in other bacteria, but has some very interesting functional and regulatory facets that make it ideal to study. Furthermore, it is known that Helicobacter pylori motility is required for bacterial colonization and persistence in the human stomach mucus lining. Hence, a greater understanding of how flagellum biogenesis functions in this organism could eventually lead to insights into bacterial intervention.