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. 1985 Apr;162(1):361–366. doi: 10.1128/jb.162.1.361-366.1985

Structure of complex flagellar filaments in Rhizobium meliloti.

G Krupski, R Götz, K Ober, E Pleier, R Schmitt
PMCID: PMC218997  PMID: 3980440

Abstract

The complex flagella of Rhizobium meliloti 2011 and MVII-1 were analyzed with regard to serology, fine structure, subunits, and amino acid composition. The serological identities of flagellar filaments of the two strains were demonstrated by double immunodiffusion with antiflagellin antiserum. The filaments had a diameter of 16 nm. Their morphology was dominated by the prominent undulations of an external three-start helix running at a 10-nm axial distance and at an angle of 32 degrees. Faint nearly axial striations indicated the presence of a tubular core of a different helical order. The complex filaments consisted of 40,000-dalton flagellin monomers. Typically, the amino acid composition was 3 to 4% higher in nonpolar residues and 5 to 7% lower in aspartic and glutamic acids (and their amides) than that of plain flagellar proteins. There were no immunochemical relationships among Pseudomonas rhodos, Rhizobium lupini, and R. meliloti complex flagella, suggesting that the latter represent a new class.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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