Bacterial flagellar nanomotor as a reciprocating internal combustion engine: A comparative approach

Abstract

Bacterial flagellum is a complex organelle, which provides motility to the cells as a fully functional motor as well as being a sensory receptor and an export system. The flagellum is made up of several protein elements such as a basal body, consisting of a stator and a rotor, a motor-switch complex, a hook and a filament. Flagellum is driven by proton motive force and converts electrochemical energy into torque. It moves in a similar fashion to the propeller of the outboard motors. Flagellum shows high similarity to the piston structure of internal combustion engines. Although flagellar motors have been compared to Wankel motors previously, its characteristics are more similar to reciprocating internal combustion engines. In this study, structural components of bacterial flagellar nanomotors and internal combustion engines are compared.