Unfolding of tertiary structure of Halobacterium halobium flagellins does not result in flagella destruction.

The structure of Halobacterium halobium R1M1 flagella is investigated by the methods of scanning microcalorimetry, circular dichroism, and electron microscopy. It is shown that melting curves of flagella in solutions with a different concentration of NaCl display only one peak of heat capacity that corresponds to one cooperatively melting domain. It is found that flagella do not dissociate after melting. The possible structural organization of archaebacterial flagella is discussed.