Monoderm bacteria: the new frontier for type IV pilus biology
Summary In the diverse world of bacterial pili, type IV pili (Tfp) are unique for two reasons: their multifunctionality and ubiquity. This latter feature offers an extraordinary possibility, that is, to perform comparative studies in evolutionarily distant species in order to improve our fragmentary...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Molecular microbiology 2019-12, Vol.112 (6), p.1674-1683 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Summary
In the diverse world of bacterial pili, type IV pili (Tfp) are unique for two reasons: their multifunctionality and ubiquity. This latter feature offers an extraordinary possibility, that is, to perform comparative studies in evolutionarily distant species in order to improve our fragmentary understanding of Tfp biology. Regrettably, such potential has remained largely untapped, because, for 20 years, Tfp have only been characterised in diderm bacteria. However, recent studies of Tfp in monoderms have started closing the gap, revealing many interesting commonalities and a few significant differences, extending the frontiers of knowledge of Tfp biology. Here, I review the current state of the art of the Tfp field in monoderm bacteria and discuss resulting implications for our general understanding of the assembly and function of these widespread filamentous nanomachines.
Type IV pili (Tfp) have been studied for decades, primarily because they are widespread weapons in pathogenic bacteria. An in‐depth understanding of how these filamentous nanomachines are assembled and function, which is yet to be achieved, could have important consequences for human health. Here, I review the current state of the art of the field in bacteria with one membrane, which have only recently emerged as an advantageous model for studying Tfp biology. |
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ISSN: | 0950-382X 1365-2958 |
DOI: | 10.1111/mmi.14397 |