Fig. 7: Model of the interactions of archaella, Aap and threads with the S. acidocaldarius S-layer.
From: Towards a molecular picture of the archaeal cell surface
a Model of the thread assembly machinery15. The threads can pass though hexagonal pores of the S-layer. b Model of the archaellum assembly machinery19,22,31. ArlJ, assembly platform protein; ArlI, ATPase, ArlH, putative switch protein; ArlX, accessory protein with putative stator function; ArlG and ArlF anchor the machinery in the S-layer. A local reorganisation or disassembly of the SlaA pore would be required (red lightning symbol) for the archaellum to cross the S-layer. c Model of the Aap assembly machinery9. AapE ATPase, AapF assembly platform protein, AapX unknown function, M membrane. For the Aap filament to fit through the pores, SlaA subunits would have to be removed or at least fold outwards.
