Type IV Pilus Retraction in Pathogenic Neisseria is Regulated by the PilC Proteins

Overview

Journal EMBO J

Specialties Biotechnology
Molecular Biology

Date 2004 Apr 23

PMID 15103324

Citations 65

Authors

Philippe C Morand

Emmanuelle Bille

Sandrine Morelle

Emmanuel Eugene

Jean-Luc Beretti

Matthew Wolfgang

Thomas F Meyer

Michael Koomey

Xavier Nassif

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Pathogenic Neisseria express type IV pili (tfp), which have been shown to play a central role in the interactions of bacteria with their environment. The regulation of piliation thus constitutes a central element in bacterial life cycle. The PilC proteins are outer membrane-associated proteins that have a key role in tfp biogenesis since PilC-null mutants appear defective for fibre expression. Moreover, tfp are also subjected to retraction, which is under the control of the PilT nucleotide-binding protein. In this work, we bring evidence that fibre retraction involves the translocation of pilin subunits to the cytoplasmic membrane. Furthermore, by engineering meningococcal strains that harbour inducible pilC genes, and with the use of meningococcus-cell interaction as a model for the sequential observation of fibre expression and retraction, we show that the PilC proteins regulate PilT-mediated fibre retraction.

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