These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Type IV pilus retraction in pathogenic Neisseria is regulated by the PilC proteins.
    Author: Morand PC, Bille E, Morelle S, Eugène E, Beretti JL, Wolfgang M, Meyer TF, Koomey M, Nassif X.
    Journal: EMBO J; 2004 May 05; 23(9):2009-17. PubMed ID: 15103324.
    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.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]