Uptake of environmental DNA in Bacillus subtilis occurs all over the cell surface through a dynamic pilus structure.

ABSTRACT: At the transition to stationary phase, a subpopulation of Bacillus subtilis cells can enter the developmental state of competence, where DNA is taken up through the cell envelope, and is processed to single stranded DNA, which is incorporated into the genome if sufficient homology between sequences exists. We show here that the initial step of transport across the cell wall occurs via a true pilus structure, with an average length of about 500 nm, which assembles at various places on the cell surface. Once assembled, the pilus remains at one position and can be retracted in a time frame of seconds. The major pilin, ComGC, was studied at a single molecule level in live cells. ComGC was found in two distinct populations, one that would correspond to ComGC freely diffusing throughout the cell

SUBMITTER: Kilb A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10564135 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature