Sequencing of flagellin genes from Natrialba magadii provides new insight into evolutionary aspects of archaeal flagellins.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a flagellin gene locus from the haloalkaliphilic archaeon Natrialba magadii, identified the gene products among proteins forming flagella, and demonstrated cotranscription of the genes. Based on the sequence analysis we suggest that different regions of the genes might have distinct evolutionary histories including possible genetic exchange with bacterial flagellin genes.