Monolayer Crystallization of Flagellar L-P Rings by Sequential Addition and Depletion of Lipid

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 252; no. 5012; pp. 1544 - 1546
• Main Authors: Akiba, Toshihiko, Yoshimura, Hideyuki, Namba, Keiichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 14.06.1991; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Bacteriological methods and techniques used in bacteriology; Bacteriology; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Fractionation; Cell membranes; Crystallization; Crystallography; Crystals; Electron micrographs; Flagella; Flagella (Microbiology); Flagella - ultrastructure; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lipids; Membrane proteins; Methods; Microbiology; Microscopy, Electron; P branes; Phospholipids; Porins; Proteins; Rotation; Salmonella typhimurium - ultrastructure; Purification; Ring; Crystallization; Flagellum; Bacteria; Molecular interaction; Lipids; Method; External membrane
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.2047860

The L-P ring complex is thought to be a molecular bushing that supports flagellar motor rotation at about 10,000 revolutions per minute with presumably very little friction. Structural studies of this complex have been limited because only very small amount of samples are available. Therefore devising an efficient method of crystallization was essential. The addition of a phospholipid and its subsequent slow depletion by phospholipase A$_2$ have been used to successfully grow well-ordered monolayer crystals that extend up to about 10 micrometers. The interaction of the L-P ring complex with lipid membranes was also visualized during this process.