Non-equilibrium effect in the allosteric regulation of the bacterial flagellar switch

Abstract

The switching mechanism of the flagellar motor provides the basis for the motile behaviour of flagellated bacteria. Its highly sensitive response has previously been understood in terms of equilibrium models, either the classical two-state concerted allosteric model, or more generally, the Ising-type conformation spread model. Here, we systematically study motor switching under various load conditions from high to zero load, under different proton motive force (pmf) conditions and varying the number of torque-generating units (stators). In doing so, we reveal the signature of a non-equilibrium effect. To consistently account for the motor-switching dependence on each those conditions, a previously neglected non-equilibrium effect—the energy input from the motor torque—has to be incorporated into models of the flagellar switch. We further show that this effect increases the sensitivity of the flagellar switch. Exploiting a very small fraction of the energy expense of the flagellar motor for functional regulation increases its sensitivity greatly. Similar mechanisms are expected to be found in other protein complexes. Flagellated bacteria move by alternately rotating their flagella clockwise and counterclockwise with dynamics that are shown here to be torque dependent. This non-equilibrium effect increases motor sensitivity as the torque increases.