Page 192 - The Miracle of Protein

190 THE MIRACLE OF PROTEIN

Bacterial flagellum

Like all other living structures, bacteria also have basic
needs like food and reproduction, and most of the time, they
need to move to do these. But how do they move?
It is very difficult for the bacteria to move in their environ-

ment, since they are only a single cell. A bacterium moving in-
side a liquid can be compared to a rowboat trying to move with
oars in a heap of rubble. At this point, a flawless mechanism
created by God for these organisms comes to the rescue.

Actually, scientists have long known about the bacterial
flagellum. However, when recent studies revealed the details of
this structure, the world of science was completely taken aback.
The reason is because studies showed the flagellum wasn't a
simple oscillating mechanism, but on the contrary, a state of the
art structure.

This structure works like a propeller and, just like the mo-
tor at the rear of a boat, creates propelling power to push the
bacteria further.
Similar to an engine, there is a rotor embedded in the in-
ner membrane of the cell that provides the rotating movement.

The stator is a fixed part. The rotating rotor has a tubular struc-
ture and, starting from the cell membrane, extends until the
outer part of the flagella and turns with it.
While some bacteria have only one flagellum, some have
multiple. The rotation of the flagellum allows the bacteria to
move in response to various chemical signals. It can rotate up

to 100-150 times a second. The necessary energy is provided by
the engine proteins ATPase, which work like a mill as the exter-
nal atoms pass through the cell membrane.