What are the three parts of bacterial flagellum?

The correct answer is Filament, hook and basal body.

Key Points

• Bacterium Flagella
  • Bacterial flagella are made of the protein flagellin and are a coiled, thread-like structure with a sharp bend and a rotary motor at the base.
  • It gives bacteria the ability to swim freely through a binary compound of aqueous, also known as motility or self-propulsion.
  • It is composed of three major structural elements;
    • Basal body
      • It is joined to the cytoplasmic membrane and cell membrane.
        It is made up of rings that are surrounded by MotB proteins.
    • Hook
      • A hook is a name for the wider area at the base of the flagellum.
      • It connects the filament to the base's motor protein.
    • Filament
      • It is a thin, hair-like structure emerging from the hook.

Additional Information

• The long, helical filament of bacterial flagella is made up of several flagellin subunits organised in a variety of tangled chains.
• A flagellum is made up of numerous parts and rotates, similar to a boat motor's propeller.
• Depending on the species, the diameter of bacterial flagella varies, which lies between 15 and 20 nm.
• Functions of Bacterial Flagella
  • Role in pathogenesis
  • Organ of locomotion
  • Role in identification of organism