Identification of flagellar hook and basal body gene products (FlaFV, FlaFVI, FlaFVII and FlaFVIII) in Salmonella typhimurium

J Bacteriol. 1987 Aug;169(8):3617-24. doi: 10.1128/jb.169.8.3617-3624.1987.

Abstract

The flagellar genes flaFV, flaFVII, and flaFVIII of Salmonella typhimurium were cloned, and their presence on a given plasmid was verified by complementation of Escherichia coli mutants defective in the homologous genes. The gene products were identified by radiolabeling in a minicell system as being proteins of the following molecular masses: FlaFV, 42 kilodaltons (kDa); FlaFVI, 32 kDa; FlaFVII, 30 kDA; and FlaFVIII, 27 kDa. These data, together with isoelectric focusing data, confirm gene product assignments of flagellar components made indirectly from mutant studies. Flagellar components are transported by either a signal peptide-dependent or a flagellar-specific pathway. Consistent with its location in the outer membrane ring of the basal body, protein FlaFVIII seems to use the signal peptide-dependent pathway, since it was synthesized in a precursor form and processed, presumably by peptide cleavage, to a mature form; the maturation process was inhibited by addition of a proton ionophore. Proteins synthesized in minicells were localized as follows: FlaFVI was localized to the soluble fraction (cytoplasm); pre-FlaFVIII and FlaFVIII were localized to the particulate fraction (membrane or high-molecular-weight aggregate); FlaFV and FlaFVII were localized to both fractions. The significance of these locations in terms of known or suspected roles in the flagellar apparatus is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / analysis
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / analysis
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cytoplasm / analysis
  • Flagella*
  • Genes
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism
  • Protein Sorting Signals / metabolism
  • Salmonella typhimurium / analysis
  • Salmonella typhimurium / genetics*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / metabolism
  • Salmonella typhimurium / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Protein Precursors
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • hook protein, bacterial flagellum