[Molvis-list] Bacterial flagellar hook: a molecular universal joint.

[Eric Martz]

In October, Samatey et al. in the groups of DeRosier and Namba, published a 
crystal structure for the subunit of the bacterial flagellar hook. Guided 
by a cryo-EM density they obtained for the entire hook, they then assembled 
121 subunit chains into a model hook. Finally, they modeled rotation of the 
hook by molecular dynamics. Their work provides a basis for beginning to 
understand how the hook can be easily bent, yet transmit rotational torque.

Keiichi Namba kindly provided me with their atomic coordinates, and 
permission to redistribute them. I have developed a number of animations of 
the hook rotation process. Have a look at

http://molvis.sdsc.edu/atlas/morphs/flaghook/index.htm

This new flagellar hook page can be found

  1. At http://MolviZ.Org

  2. From http://proteinexplorer.org -- at the FrontDoor, click on the link 
to "Morphs, Rotatable Animations" (decorated by the green and red EF-hand 
animation).

  3. In Protein Explorer's Atlas of Macromolecules, under "Magnificent 
molecular machines".

The flagellar hook page is not yet downloadable, but will be included in 
downloads of a forthcoming release of Protein Explorer.

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Eric Martz, Professor Emeritus, Dept Microbiology
U Mass, Amherst MA US  413-545-2325/FAX 413-545-2532
               http://www.umass.edu/molvis/martz
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