2022
FliL ring enhances the function of periplasmic flagella
Guo S, Xu H, Chang Y, Motaleb MA, Liu J. FliL ring enhances the function of periplasmic flagella. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2022, 119: e2117245119. PMID: 35254893, PMCID: PMC8931381, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117245119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFlagellar motorBacterial motilityCryo-electron tomographyStator complexFlagellar proteinsMutant cellsPeriplasmic flagellaActive conformationSitu structureFascinating questionsSupramolecular complexesMotilityComplexesMotBOptimal functionFliLFlagellaIon fluxProteinFunctionAssemblyRemodelingCellsConformationBorrelia
2021
BB0259 Encompasses a Peptidoglycan Lytic Enzyme Function for Proper Assembly of Periplasmic Flagella in Borrelia burgdorferi
Xu H, Hu B, Flesher DA, Liu J, Motaleb MA. BB0259 Encompasses a Peptidoglycan Lytic Enzyme Function for Proper Assembly of Periplasmic Flagella in Borrelia burgdorferi. Frontiers In Microbiology 2021, 12: 692707. PMID: 34659138, PMCID: PMC8517470, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.692707.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPeriplasmic flagellaFlagellar rodProper assemblyFlagellar hookCryo-electron tomographyPG sacculusProtein homologsΕ-ProteobacteriaPeptidoglycan sacculusLytic transglycosylaseΓ-ProteobacteriaDistinct proteinsFlgJOuter membraneFunctional flagellaFilament assemblyFunctional domainsEnzyme functionCell wallMutant strainLyme disease spirocheteFlagellaEnzyme activityAssemblySacculus
2018
Cryo-electron tomography of periplasmic flagella in Borrelia burgdorferi reveals a distinct cytoplasmic ATPase complex
Qin Z, Tu J, Lin T, Norris SJ, Li C, Motaleb MA, Liu J. Cryo-electron tomography of periplasmic flagella in Borrelia burgdorferi reveals a distinct cytoplasmic ATPase complex. PLOS Biology 2018, 16: e3000050. PMID: 30412577, PMCID: PMC6248999, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000050.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCryo-electron tomographyPeriplasmic flagellaATPase complexFlagellar C-ringType III secretion systemCytoplasmic ATPase complexLyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferiMotility of spirochetesExport apparatusSecretion systemStructural insightsBorrelia burgdorferiFlagellaSpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiPathogenic spirochetesC-ringNovel therapeutic strategiesUnique mechanismDistinct morphologiesB. burgdorferiComplexesMultiple spokesAssemblyTherapeutic strategiesBurgdorferiA unique cytoplasmic ATPase complex defines the Legionella pneumophila type IV secretion channel
Chetrit D, Hu B, Christie PJ, Roy CR, Liu J. A unique cytoplasmic ATPase complex defines the Legionella pneumophila type IV secretion channel. Nature Microbiology 2018, 3: 678-686. PMID: 29784975, PMCID: PMC5970066, DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0165-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCytoplasmic complexType IV secretion channelType IV secretion systemInner membrane complexTranslocation of substratesCryo-electron tomographySecretion channelCell polesCytoplasmic ATPaseSecretion systemT4SS functionHexameric assemblyMembrane complexCytoplasmic channelsDNA complexesSubstrate transferT4SSChannel activationATPaseComplexesDistinct stagesAssemblyBiogenesisATPasesFurther analysisVisualizing Chemoreceptor Arrays in Bacterial Minicells by Cryo-Electron Tomography and Subtomogram Analysis
Qin Z, Hu B, Liu J. Visualizing Chemoreceptor Arrays in Bacterial Minicells by Cryo-Electron Tomography and Subtomogram Analysis. Methods In Molecular Biology 2018, 1729: 187-199. PMID: 29429093, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7577-8_17.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCryo-electron tomographyChemoreceptor arraysCheW coupling proteinLarge macromolecular assembliesChemotaxis arraysSubtomogram analysisCheA kinaseBacterial chemoreceptorsCellular contextCoupling proteinMacromolecular assembliesChemotaxis signalingMolecular levelSitu structurePrecise architectureBacterial minicellsMinicellsUnique toolKinaseSignalingProteinSubtomogramsAssemblyConcertAmplification
2017
In Situ Molecular Architecture of the Salmonella Type III Secretion Machine
Hu B, Lara-Tejero M, Kong Q, Galán JE, Liu J. In Situ Molecular Architecture of the Salmonella Type III Secretion Machine. Cell 2017, 168: 1065-1074.e10. PMID: 28283062, PMCID: PMC5393631, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.02.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsType III secretion machinesSecretion machineNeedle complexType III protein secretion systemCytoplasmic sorting platformProtein secretion systemMulti-protein machinesProtein secretion machinesTarget eukaryotic cellsCryo-electron tomographyDifferent deletion mutantsSub-tomogram averagingSignificant conformational changesMolecular architectureExport apparatusEukaryotic cellsSecretion systemDeletion mutantsSorting platformConformational changesSitu structureMajor insightsMolecular modelingStructural componentsAssembly