Abstract
In this issue (J Bacteriol. 206: e0014024, https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.00140-24), Ridone and Baker describe hybrids between two 5:2 heteroheptameric ion-powered motors. Chimeras were constructed between stator units of a bacterial flagellum and ExbBD of the Ton outer-membrane transport system. Only one of the 14 hybrids supported swimming in Escherichia coli. Three additional residue changes at sites distant from the hybrid region enhanced motility. This work suggests that flagellar stator units and ExbBD share an ancestor that diverged during evolution to perform different tasks.