Bacterial adhesion pili are heterologous assemblies of similar subunits

Biophysical Journal
Esther Bullitt, L Makowski

Abstract

P-pili on uropathogenic bacteria are 68-A-diameter rods typically 1 microm in length. These structures project from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, and contain on their distal tip a thin fibrillum, 25 A in diameter and 150 A long, displaying an adhesin protein responsible for the binding of the bacterium to the surface of epithelial cells lining the urinary tract. Operationally, it is possible to identify three morphologically distinct states of the 68-A-diameter P-pili rods, based on the degree of curvature each can adopt. These states are designated "straight," "curved," and "highly curved." The rods can also be unwound to form thin "threads" that are very similar to the tip fibrillae. Electron microscope data are used to distinguish among these four morphological states and to define limits on the shapes of the pilus proteins. The mechanical properties of the PapA polymers are assessed, and implications of rod polymorphism for pilus function are discussed. A wide variety of data are considered in light of the possibility that all pilins are similar in molecular architecture, with specific differences designed to optimize their specialized functions in the pilus assembly.

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Citations

Jun 8, 2007·European Biophysics Journal : EBJ·Robert A LugmaierMartin Benoit
Oct 11, 2007·European Biophysics Journal : EBJ·Oscar BjörnhamMagnus Andersson
May 9, 2012·European Biophysics Journal : EBJ·Johan ZakrissonMagnus Andersson
Jul 29, 2011·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Dagmara I KisielaEvgeni V Sokurenko
Jan 5, 2012·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Sujay ChattopadhyayStephen J Savarino
Jan 29, 2013·Journal of Bacteriology·Katrina T Forest
Jan 18, 2011·Journal of Bacteriology·Feng-Jung ChenLong Hsu
Aug 10, 2002·Journal of Bacteriology·Xiang-Qi MuEsther Bullitt
Jun 25, 2009·The Journal of Chemical Physics·Oscar Björnham, Ove Axner
Jan 25, 2005·Journal of Molecular Biology·Xiang-Qi MuEsther Bullitt
Jul 18, 2006·Biophysical Journal·Magnus AnderssonOve Axner
May 28, 2013·Biophysical Journal·Johan ZakrissonMagnus Andersson
Oct 31, 2014·Molecular Microbiology·Narges MortezaeiEsther Bullitt
Dec 20, 2011·Journal of Molecular Biology·Magnus AnderssonEsther Bullitt
Apr 9, 2015·European Biophysics Journal : EBJ·Johan ZakrissonMagnus Andersson
Sep 21, 2004·Biophysical Journal·Jana JassOve Axner
Sep 5, 2006·Biophysical Journal·Eric MillerAndres F Oberhauser
Apr 19, 2016·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Johan ZakrissonMagnus Andersson
Dec 21, 2011·Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics·Guanglai LiYves V Brun
Sep 4, 2015·Physical Biology·Johan ZakrissonMagnus Andersson
Mar 22, 2008·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Loredana S DorobantuMurray R Gray

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