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Review
. 1995 Apr;68(4 Suppl):163S-166S; discussion 166S-167S.

Torque generation by the flagellar rotary motor

H C Berg  1
Affiliations
Review

Torque generation by the flagellar rotary motor

H C Berg. Biophys J. 1995 Apr.

Abstract

A review is given of the structure and dynamics of the flagellar rotary motor. Force-generating elements in a motor driving a tethered bacterium (a cell fixed to the substratum by a single flagellum) exert forces of order 20 pN while moving at speeds of order 1 micron/s. Force-generating elements in a motor driving a flagellar filament in a bundle exert forces some 10-fold lower but move at speeds more than 10-fold higher. The motor torque-speed relationship has been measured over a wide dynamic range. Motors strongly resist being driven backwards and are easily broken.

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References

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