Flagellar Motility and Structure in the Hyperthermoacidophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

Authors

Zalán Szabó, University of Groningen
Musa Sani, University of Groningen
Maarten Groeneveld, University of Groningen
Benham Zolghadr, University of Groningen
James Schelert, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sonja-Verena Albers, University of Groningen
Paul H. Blum, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Egbert J. Boekema, University of Groningen
Arnold J.M. Driessen, University of Groningen

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2007

Citation

Journal of Bacteriology, June 2007, p. 4305–4309 Vol. 189, No. 11

Comments

Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

Flagellation in archaea is widespread and is involved in swimming motility. Here, we demonstrate that the

structural flagellin gene from the crenarchaeaon Sulfolobus solfataricus is highly expressed in stationary-phasegrown

cells and under unfavorable nutritional conditions. A mutant in a flagellar auxiliary gene, flaJ, was

found to be nonmotile. Electron microscopic imaging of the flagellum indicates that the filaments are composed

of right-handed helices.