Many bacteria swim by means of flagella that are rotated by a nanoscale motor embedded in the cell membrane. Torque is generated by the interaction between ion-conducting membrane proteins that comprise the stator and ring-shaped structures that form the rotor. Although the structure and function of the motor have been extensively studied, many mysteries remain, including the force-generation mechanism, the path of ion flow through the stator, the activation mechanism of the stator, and the mechanism of switching between clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) rotation. We summarize recent knowledge of the Na⁺-driven flagellar motor, especially the Vibrio polar motor that rotates much faster than the H⁺-driven motor and provides a useful model system for examining comparative aspects of flagellar function.

许多细菌通过鞭毛游动，而鞭毛通过嵌入细胞膜的纳米级马达旋转。扭矩由构成定子的离子导电膜蛋白与形成转子的环形结构之间的相互作用产生。尽管已经对电动机的结构和功能进行了广泛的研究，但仍然存在许多谜团，包括力产生机制，离子流过定子的路径，定子的激活机制以及顺时针（CW）切换机制逆时针（CCW）旋转。我们总结了Na ⁺驱动的鞭毛马达的最新知识，尤其是旋转速度比H ⁺快得多的弧菌极马达驱动的电机，并提供了一个有用的模型系统来检查鞭毛功能的比较方面。