Journal of Molecular Biology
Volume 106, Issue 1, 5 September 1976, Pages 167-186
Journal home page for Journal of Molecular Biology

Helical transformations of Salmonella flagella in vitro

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-2836(76)90306-5Get rights and content

Abstract

Helical transformations of reconstituted Salmonella flagella were visualized by dark-field light microscopy. Flagella from SJ670 strain were lefthanded helices with a pitch of 2.3 μm at neutral pH. When, however, the pH of the solution was lowered to 4.7, they were discontinouously transformed into close-coils with a pitch of 0.5 μm and a diameter of 1.2 μm, and a further lowering of the pH converted these coiled flagella into so-called curly ones, righthanded helices with a pitch of 1.1 μm. The transformation was rapid and reversible. Two other kinds of flagella (SJ25 and SJ30) also underwent such polymorphic conversions. Thus pH is an important factor in the control of flagellar transformation.

As a result of the transformation, the degree of flow birefringence of a flagellar solution depends strongly on pH. Measurements of this parameter were useful in the study of the effects on the transformation of salt concentration and temperature.

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