Fig. 5: Model of cap-mediated filament elongation. | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: Model of cap-mediated filament elongation.

From: The cryo-EM structure of the bacterial flagellum cap complex suggests a molecular mechanism for filament elongation

Fig. 5

Nascent flagellin molecules are secreted through the filament and enter the cap complex chamber (1). They then exit the cap complex through a side cavity (2), which positions them in close proximity to the site of insertion. There, hydrophobic patches, composed of both exposed flagellin molecules, as well as FliD D0 domain, act as chaperones, and promote flagellin folding (3). Following the insertion of a new flagellin subunit, the cap complex rotates (4), positioning it to have the open cavity towards the next site of insertion.

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