2024
Bacterial flagella hijack type IV pili proteins to control motility
Liu X, Tachiyama S, Zhou X, Mathias R, Bonny S, Khan M, Xin Y, Roujeinikova A, Liu J, Ottemann K. Bacterial flagella hijack type IV pili proteins to control motility. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2317452121. PMID: 38236729, PMCID: PMC10823254, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317452121.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
The Bacterial Flagellar Motor: Insights Into Torque Generation, Rotational Switching, and Mechanosensing
Guo S, Liu J. The Bacterial Flagellar Motor: Insights Into Torque Generation, Rotational Switching, and Mechanosensing. Frontiers In Microbiology 2022, 13: 911114. PMID: 35711788, PMCID: PMC9195833, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.911114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStator complexStator unitsFlagellar motorStructural biology perspectiveBacterial flagellar motorRotary nanomachineBiology perspectiveAccessory proteinsStructural insightsBacterial motilitySpecific nichesMechanistic basisHost cellsDistinct conformationsC-ringRotational switchingBacteriaAccessory moleculesMotilityFliLMechanosensingComplexesNicheStructural remodelingCytoplasmFliL 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
Characterization of the Flagellar Collar Reveals Structural Plasticity Essential for Spirochete Motility
Chang Y, Xu H, Motaleb MA, Liu J. Characterization of the Flagellar Collar Reveals Structural Plasticity Essential for Spirochete Motility. MBio 2021, 12: e02494-21. PMID: 34809456, PMCID: PMC8609358, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02494-21.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferiPeriplasmic flagellaSpirochete motilityCryo-electron tomographySpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiRemarkable structural plasticityComplex host environmentSerious human diseasesFlagellar assemblyCollar ComplexMultiprotein complexesFlagellar collarFlagellar motorDistinct functionsDistinct morphologiesRemarkable plasticityHuman diseasesBorrelia burgdorferiHost environmentFlagellaStructural plasticityRemarkable groupMotilityProteinHost connective tissue
2020
An asymmetric sheath controls flagellar supercoiling and motility in the leptospira spirochete
Gibson KH, Trajtenberg F, Wunder EA, Brady MR, San Martin F, Mechaly A, Shang Z, Liu J, Picardeau M, Ko A, Buschiazzo A, Sindelar CV. An asymmetric sheath controls flagellar supercoiling and motility in the leptospira spirochete. ELife 2020, 9: e53672. PMID: 32157997, PMCID: PMC7065911, DOI: 10.7554/elife.53672.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCryo-electron tomographyKey functional attributesNative flagellar filamentsHigh-resolution cryo-electron tomographyPeriplasmic spaceSheath proteinStructural basisFlagellar filamentsLeptospira spirochetesSpirochete bacteriaEntire cellFunctional attributesX-ray crystallographyImportant pathogenSupercoilingMotilityBacteriaFilamentsCell bodiesFlagellaSpirochetesProteinFlagellinDistinctive meansEndoflagella
2016
Imaging the Motility and Chemotaxis Machineries in Helicobacter pylori by Cryo-Electron Tomography
Qin Z, Lin WT, Zhu S, Franco AT, Liu J. Imaging the Motility and Chemotaxis Machineries in Helicobacter pylori by Cryo-Electron Tomography. Journal Of Bacteriology 2016, 199: 10.1128/jb.00695-16. PMID: 27849173, PMCID: PMC5237115, DOI: 10.1128/jb.00695-16.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCryo-electron tomographyChemotaxis arraysUnipolar flagellaBacterial pathogensFlagella-driven motilityMultiple unipolar flagellaNovel structural insightsFlagellar assemblyChemotaxis machineryFlagellar poleAssembly intermediatesFlagellar rotationFlagellar motorCell envelopeStructural insightsMembrane sheathSheathed flagellumMolecular mechanismsUnique motilityH. pylori cellsFlagellaSitu structureHigh-viscosity environmentsPylori cellsMotilityA novel flagellar sheath protein, FcpA, determines filament coiling, translational motility and virulence for the Leptospira spirochete
Wunder EA, Figueira CP, Benaroudj N, Hu B, Tong BA, Trajtenberg F, Liu J, Reis MG, Charon NW, Buschiazzo A, Picardeau M, Ko AI. A novel flagellar sheath protein, FcpA, determines filament coiling, translational motility and virulence for the Leptospira spirochete. Molecular Microbiology 2016, 101: 457-470. PMID: 27113476, PMCID: PMC4979076, DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13403.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTraverse tissue barriersHamster modelTarget organsSystemic infectionClinical isolatesLeptospira spirochetesTranslational motilityL. interrogansCell morphologyTissue barriersMotilityLeptospiraPeriplasmic flagellaSpirochetesVirulence phenotypesProtein AHelical cell morphologyInfectionDiseaseLeptospirosisPathogen L. interrogans
2008
The role of filament-packing dynamics in powering amoeboid cell motility
Miao L, Vanderlinde O, Liu J, Grant RP, Wouterse A, Shimabukuro K, Philipse A, Stewart M, Roberts TM. The role of filament-packing dynamics in powering amoeboid cell motility. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2008, 105: 5390-5395. PMID: 18385381, PMCID: PMC2291107, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0708416105.Peer-Reviewed Original Research