Scientists uncover the mystery of the pathogen "Scud"

Schematic diagram of flagellar motor structure (left) and its working mechanism

Since Leeuwenhoek first observed bacteria that can move in the 17th century, the ability of bacteria to move and its mechanism have attracted intense interest from scientists.

On April 20, "Cell" magazine published the research results of the team of Professor Zhu Yongqun from the Institute of Life Sciences of Zhejiang University and the team of Professor Zhang Xing of the School of Medicine, revealing the atomic resolution structure of the Salmonella flagellar motor.

Zhu Yongqun said that this work is an important breakthrough in the field of bacteria.

Zhang Xing said that bacterial flagella is an intricate and complex machine and a masterpiece of molecular evolution in nature.

Bacteria and other organisms such as humans have a long biological co-evolution process.

The ability of bacteria to swim quickly is based on a special motor organ-flagella.

The flagellar motor is one of the most complex protein machines in nature, it can rotate 300-2400 revolutions per second.

"In order to solve this world problem, we hope to analyze its high-resolution structure.

Why can bacteria run so fast? The structure of the flagellar motor analyzed by Zhejiang University researchers clearly reveals the mystery.

The inner membrane ring structure is very special, it can not only rotate and transmit torque, but also the assembly base of the entire flagellar motor.

Because of the uniqueness of the structure and the delicate cooperation between the various structural elements, the flagellar motor can transfer the mechanical energy converted from the proton pump to the flagellar filaments quickly without loss, and promote the flagellar filaments to rotate at a high speed.

Bacterial flagella is the basic content of microbiology textbooks.

A review expert said that this is a structural study of milestones.

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