The role of PilU in the surface behaviors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT: In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the dynamic activity of type IV pilus (TFP) is essential for various bacterial behaviors. While PilU is considered a homolog of the TFP disassembling motor PilT, its specific roles remain unclear. Using pilus visualization and single-cell tracking techniques, we characterized TFP dynamics and surface behaviors in wild-type and ΔpilU mutants. We found that ΔpilU cells displayed increased TFP numbers but reduced cell movement and delayed microcolony formation. Interestingly, beyond affecting the twitching motility, ΔpilU cells formed a thick multilayered colony edge on semi-solid surfaces, slowing colony expansion. Cell-cell collision responses changed from touch-turn dominance in wild type to touch-upright dominance in ΔpilU, aff

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11868832 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature