Purification, reconstitution and polymorphic transition of halobacterial flagella.

Flagellar filaments of Halobacterium halobium have been purified by dissociation and reconstitution. Three different protein bands (23,500, 26,500 and 31,500 apparent molecular weight) are seen on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels, thus confirming that all three proteins are intrinsic to the flagellar structure. We designate them as flagellin Fla I (23,500), Fla II (26,500) and Fla III (31,500). Polymorphic transitions from normal to a curly, a ring and a straight form are induced by different pH values and heat treatments.