This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Coulton, J W Articles by Murray, R G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Coulton, J W Articles by Murray, R G

Cell envelope associations of Aquaspirillum serpens flagella.

ABSTRACT

Specific regions of the cell envelope associated with the flagellar basal complex of the gram-negative bacterium Aquaspirillum (Spirillum) serpens were identified by studying each of the envelope layers: outer membrane, mucopeptide, and plasma membrane. The outer membrane around the flagella insertion site was differentiated by concentric membrane rings and central perforations surrounded by a closely set collar. The perforations in both the outer membrane and the isolated mucopeptide layer were of a size accomodating the central rod of the basal complex but smaller than either the L or the P disks. The P disk of the complex may lie between the mucopeptide and the outer membrane. Electron microscopy of intact, spheroplasted, or autolyzed preparations did not adequately resolve the location of the inner pair of disks of the basal complex. Freeze-etching, however, revealed differentiation within the plasma membrane that appeared to be related to the basal complex. The convex fracture face showed depressions which are interpreted as impressions of a disk surrounded by a set of evenly spaced macromolecular studs and containing a central "plug" interpreted as the central rod. In thin sections, blebs, which appear to be associated with the flagellar apparatus, were seen on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane. Superimposing the dimensions of the flagellar basal complex and the spacings of the cell envelope layers and using the position of the L disk within the outer membrane for reference, showed that the S disk might be within and the M disk beneath the plasma membrane. A tentative model was developed for comparison with that based on the structure of the Escherichia coli basal complex.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Yakushi, T., Yang, J., Fukuoka, H., Homma, M., Blair, D. F. (2006). Roles of Charged Residues of Rotor and Stator in Flagellar Rotation: Comparative Study using H+-Driven and Na+-Driven Motors in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 188: 1466-1472 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McCarter, L. L. (2001). Polar Flagellar Motility of the Vibrionaceae. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 65: 445-462 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Engelhardt, H, Schuster, S., Baeuerlein, E (1993). An archimedian spiral: the basal disk of the Wolinella flagellar motor. Science 262: 1046-1048 [Abstract]  
• Blair, D., Berg, H. (1988). Restoration of torque in defective flagellar motors. Science 242: 1678-1681 [Abstract]  
• Chun, S., Parkinson, J. (1988). Bacterial motility: membrane topology of the Escherichia coli MotB protein. Science 239: 276-278 [Abstract]