2ZF8

Insights into the stator assembly of the Vibrio flagellar motor from the crystal structure of MotY

(2008) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105: 7696-7701

• PubMed: 18505842 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0800308105
• Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
  2ZF8


• PubMed Abstract: 
  

  Rotation of the sodium-driven polar flagellum of Vibrio alginolyticus requires four motor proteins: PomA, PomB, MotX, and MotY. PomA and PomB form a sodium-ion channel in the cytoplasmic membrane that functions as a stator complex to couple sodium-ion flux with torque generation. MotX and MotY are components of the T-ring, which is located beneath the P-ring of the polar flagellar basal body and is involved in incorporation of the PomA/PomB complex into the motor. Here, we describe the determination of the crystal structure of MotY at 2.9 A resolution. The structure shows two distinct domains: an N-terminal domain (MotY-N) and a C-terminal domain (MotY-C). MotY-N has a unique structure. MotY-C contains a putative peptidoglycan-binding motif that is remarkably similar to those of peptidoglycan-binding proteins, such as Pal and RmpM, but this region is disordered in MotY. Motility assay of cells producing either of the MotY-N and MotY-C fragments and subsequent biochemical analyses indicate that MotY-N is essential for association of the stator units around the rotor, whereas MotY-C stabilizes the association by binding to the peptidoglycan layer. Based on these observations, we propose a model for the mechanism of stator assembly around the rotor.

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Organizational Affiliation: 

Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.