Oscillation of type IV pili regulated by the circadian clock in cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942.

ABSTRACT: Type IV pili (TFP) are known to be functionally related to cell motilities and natural transformation in many bacteria. However, the molecular and ecological functions of the TFP have rarely been reported for photosynthetic cyanobacteria. Here, by labeling pili in model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (Syn7942), we have quantitatively characterized the TFP and its driven twitching motility in situ at the single-cell level. We found an oscillating pattern of TFP in accordance with the light and dark periods during light-dark cycles, which is correlated positively to the oscillating pattern of the natural transformation efficiency. We further showed that the internal circadian clock plays an important role in regulating the oscillating pattern of TFP, which is also sup

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10807798 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature