Structure of the Na+-driven flagellum from the homoacetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii.

The Na+-dependent flagellum of Acetobacterium woodii was characterised. Flagellin and whole flagella were purified and analysed by SDS-PAGE and electron microscopy. The structure and dimensions of the filament and the hook-basal body, as revealed by electron microscopy, resemble those of H+-dependent flagella from gram-positive bacteria. Intramembrane particle rings were present at the cell pole in freeze-fractured A. woodii cells, which might correspond to the mot complex.