Curvature generation clarified
Molecular interactions among filament, hook, and junction reveal how flagellin isoforms dictate curvature and motility.
Lou, Qing · Liu, Yang · Miller, Jeff F. · Huang, Yu D. · Hong Zhou, Z.
ACS Nano 2025
Filament comprises flagellin isoforms FlaA and FlaB with varying compositions along its length
Inter-subunit interactions at residues 129 and 134 are major determinants of functional differences in motility
Hook exhibits significantly larger curvature than filament; both contain 11 curvature-defining conformers
Hook-filament junction is composed of 11 subunits of FlgK and FlgL, reconciling filament–hook incompatibility