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REVIEW: Regulation of Flagellar Gene Expression in Bacteria


I. A. Osterman1, Yu. Yu. Dikhtyar1, A. A. Bogdanov2, O. A. Dontsova1,2, and P. V. Sergiev1*

1Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, 119991 Moscow, Russia; E-mail: petya@genebee.msu.ru

2Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received July 17, 2015; Revision received July 23, 2015
The flagellum of a bacterium is a supramolecular structure of extreme complexity comprising simultaneously both a unique system of protein transport and a molecular machine that enables the bacterial cell movement. The cascade of expression of genes encoding flagellar components is closely coordinated with the steps of molecular machine assembly, constituting an amazing regulatory system. Data on structure, assembly, and regulation of flagellar gene expression are summarized in this review. The regulatory mechanisms and correlation of the process of regulation of gene expression and flagellum assembly known from the literature are described.
KEY WORDS: flagella, motility, bacteria, molecular machine, transcriptional control

DOI: 10.1134/S000629791511005X