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Hook length of the bacterial flagellum is optimized for maximal stability of the flagellar bundle

Spöring, Imke ; Martinez, Vincent A. ; Hotz, Christian ; Schwarz-Linek, Jana ; Grady, Keara L. ; Nava-Sedeño, Josué M. ; Vissers, Teun ; Singer, Hanna M. ; Rohde, Manfred ; Bourquin, Carole ; Hatzikirou, Haralampos ; Poon, Wilson C. K. ; Dufour, Yann S. ; Erhardt, Marc

In: PLOS Biology, 2018, vol. 16, no. 9, p. e2006989

Most bacteria swim in liquid environments by rotating one or several flagella. The long external filament of the flagellum is connected to a membrane-embedded basal body by a flexible universal joint, the hook, which allows the transmission of motor torque to the filament. The length of the hook is controlled on a nanometer scale by a sophisticated molecular ruler mechanism. However, why its...