MinD-like ATPase FlhG synchronizes flagellation and cell division in spirochetes.
FlhG, a MinD-like ATPase, spatially regulates flagellar patterning and cell division in Borrelia burgdorferi, ensuring proper motility and cellular architecture.
- Why it matters: Understanding how spirochetes coordinate flagella assembly with cell division is crucial because their unique morphology and motility depend on precise structural organization, which was previously unclear.
- What they did: Researchers used B. burgdorferi as a model to investigate FlhG, a spatial regulator that localizes to cell poles and division sites, organizing key flagellar components like FlhF and FliF to synchronize flagellation with cytokinesis.
- The result: Disruption of flhG caused irregular flagellar numbers, defective flagellar bundles, abnormal septation, and impaired motility, revealing a novel mechanism that links cell morphogenesis to the cell cycle in spirochetes.