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BB0326 is responsible for the formation of periplasmic flagellar collar and assembly of the stator complex in Borrelia burgdorferi
Author(s) -
Xu Hui,
He Jun,
Liu Jun,
Motaleb Md A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.14428
Subject(s) - periplasmic space , flagellum , biology , borrelia burgdorferi , microbiology and biotechnology , mutant , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics , escherichia coli , gene , antibody
Borrelia burgdorferi is a highly motile spirochete due to its periplasmic flagella. Unlike flagella of other bacteria, spirochetes' periplasmic flagella possess a complex structure called the collar, about which little is known in terms of function and composition. Using various approaches, we have identified a novel protein, BB0326, as a key component of the collar. We show that a peripheral portion of the collar is diminished in the Δ bb0326 mutant and restored in the complemented bb0326+ cells, leading us to rename BB0326 as periplasmic flagellar collar protein A or FlcA. The Δ flcA mutant cells produced fewer, abnormally tilted and shorter flagella, as well as diminished stators, suggesting that FlcA is crucial for flagellar and stator assemblies. We provide further evidence that FlcA interacts with the stator and that this collar–stator interaction is essential for the high torque needed to power the spirochete's periplasmic flagellar motors. These observations suggest that the collar provides various important functions to the spirochete's periplasmic flagellar assembly and rotation.