Model
The Non-Agglutinating Phenotype Likely Results from an incomplete Glycosylation
and/ or Mistargeted Delivery of Agglutinin to the Flagellar Surface.
In wild-type cells (left panel), the agglutinins are likely processed
in the Golgi, trans-Golgi network, and/or endosomal compartments, areas
of low pH generated by proton pumps. From these compartments, the agglutinins
are targeted to the flagella. In the mutant strain described here (right
panel), the proton motive ATPase is absent so a low pH is not maintained
in the appropriate compartments. The loss of agglutination in this mutant,
therefore, likely results from an incomplete glycosylation and/or mistargeted
delivery of the agglutinin.