Team:SDU-Denmark/project-t

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Many organisms are able to synthesize a flagellum, if the external environment calls for it. The synthesis of a flagellum is a huge and energy consuming process and is therefore tightly regulated by the bacteria’s external environment. One of the most well characterized flagellation systems is the one found in ''E. coli''. Here at least 50 genes are involved in the hierarchical synthesis and operation of the flagella. These genes are sorted into 15 operons which are expressed in a transcriptional cascade separated into three classes. Class I consists of the master operon ''flhDC''. The active FlhDC protein is a hexamer organized into an FlhD<sub>4</sub>C<sub>2</sub> complex with a computed value of 96,4kDa (Wang). The homodimeric FlhC protein is able to bind DNA, while the FlhD homodimers are not. The formation of the FlhDC complex however, stabilizes and increases the DNA binding ability (Claret). The transcription of ''flhDC'' is heavily regulated by nutritional and environmental conditions. Flagellum synthesis is inhibited at high temperatures, at high salt concentrations, at extreme pH or in the presence of carbohydrates, low molecular alcohols or DNA gyrase inhibitors, as these conditions stimulate growth as opposed to motility (Li). Because the flagellum synthesis is so energy consuming, the process is not started unless the environment calls for motility rather than growth. In fact, in situations where nutrition is plenty over a long period, the bacteria will focus on growth and over time lose the ability to synthesize the flagellum, as seen with the ''E. coli'' strain MG1655 localized in mouse intestines (Gauger).
Many organisms are able to synthesize a flagellum, if the external environment calls for it. The synthesis of a flagellum is a huge and energy consuming process and is therefore tightly regulated by the bacteria’s external environment. One of the most well characterized flagellation systems is the one found in ''E. coli''. Here at least 50 genes are involved in the hierarchical synthesis and operation of the flagella. These genes are sorted into 15 operons which are expressed in a transcriptional cascade separated into three classes. Class I consists of the master operon ''flhDC''. The active FlhDC protein is a hexamer organized into an FlhD<sub>4</sub>C<sub>2</sub> complex with a computed value of 96,4kDa (Wang). The homodimeric FlhC protein is able to bind DNA, while the FlhD homodimers are not. The formation of the FlhDC complex however, stabilizes and increases the DNA binding ability (Claret). The transcription of ''flhDC'' is heavily regulated by nutritional and environmental conditions. Flagellum synthesis is inhibited at high temperatures, at high salt concentrations, at extreme pH or in the presence of carbohydrates, low molecular alcohols or DNA gyrase inhibitors, as these conditions stimulate growth as opposed to motility (Li). Because the flagellum synthesis is so energy consuming, the process is not started unless the environment calls for motility rather than growth. In fact, in situations where nutrition is plenty over a long period, the bacteria will focus on growth and over time lose the ability to synthesize the flagellum, as seen with the ''E. coli'' strain MG1655 localized in mouse intestines (Gauger).
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[Image:Team-SDU-Denmark-flagella-overview-1.png |600px]
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[[Image:Team-SDU-Denmark-flagella-overview-1.png|600px|'''Figure 4:''']]
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The FlhD<sub>4</sub>C<sub>2</sub> hexamer acts as a transcription factor for the Class II genes, which encodes the basal body, that is embedded in the cell membrane as well as hook proteins, which are transported to the cell exterior through the basal body. Another Class II gene is the σ<sup>28</sup> transcription factor, which is responsible for the transcription of the Class III genes. This includes ''fliC'', which encodes the flagellin subunit that composes the flagella “tail”. To ensure that the Class III genes are not transcribed before the assembly of the basal body and the hook is complete another Class II protein FliM acts as an anti-sigma factor and bind σ<sup>28</sup>, thereby preventing the transcription of ''fliC''.<br><br>
The FlhD<sub>4</sub>C<sub>2</sub> hexamer acts as a transcription factor for the Class II genes, which encodes the basal body, that is embedded in the cell membrane as well as hook proteins, which are transported to the cell exterior through the basal body. Another Class II gene is the σ<sup>28</sup> transcription factor, which is responsible for the transcription of the Class III genes. This includes ''fliC'', which encodes the flagellin subunit that composes the flagella “tail”. To ensure that the Class III genes are not transcribed before the assembly of the basal body and the hook is complete another Class II protein FliM acts as an anti-sigma factor and bind σ<sup>28</sup>, thereby preventing the transcription of ''fliC''.<br><br>

Revision as of 01:11, 27 October 2010