Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Pages: 5911-5923

Journal: Environmental Microbiology

Volume number: 24

Issue number: 12

ISSN: 1462-2912

eISSN: 1462-2920

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16107

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
Flagella enable bacteria to actively spread within the environment. A number of species possess two separate flagellar systems, where in most cases a primary polar flagellar system is supported by distinct secondary lateral flagella under appropriate conditions. Using functional fluorescence tagging on one of these species, Shewanella putrefaciens, as a model system, we explored how two different flagellar systems can exhibit efficient joint function. The S. putrefaciens secondary flagellar filaments are composed as a mixture of two highly homologous non-glycosylated flagellins, FlaA(2) and FlaB(2). Both are solely sufficient to form a functional filament, however, full spreading motility through soft agar requires both flagellins. During swimming, lateral flagella emerge from the cell surface at angles between 30 degrees and 50 degrees, and only filaments located close to the cell pole may form a bundle. Upon a directional shift from forward to backward swimming initiated by the main polar flagellum, the secondary filaments flip over and thus support propulsion into either direction. Lateral flagella do not inhibit the wrapping of the polar flagellum around the cell body at high load. Accordingly, screw thread-like motility mediated by the primary flagellum and activity of lateral flagella cumulatively supports spreading through constricted environments such as polysaccharide matrices.

Harvard Citation style: Kühn, M., Edelmann, D. and Thormann, K. (2022) Polar flagellar wrapping and lateral flagella jointly contribute to Shewanella putrefaciens environmental spreading, Environmental Microbiology, 24(12), pp. 5911-5923. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16107

APA Citation style: Kühn, M., Edelmann, D., & Thormann, K. (2022). Polar flagellar wrapping and lateral flagella jointly contribute to Shewanella putrefaciens environmental spreading. Environmental Microbiology. 24(12), 5911-5923. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16107