Stimulation of the <i>Caulobacter crescentus</i> surface sensing pathway by deletion of a specialized minor pilin-like gene.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria colonize surfaces through complex mechanisms of surface sensing. Pili are dynamic bacterial appendages that play an important role in this process. In Caulobacter crescentus, tension on retracting, surface-bound pili triggers the rapid synthesis of the adhesive holdfast, which permanently attaches cells to surfaces. However, the detailed mechanisms of pilus-mediated surface sensing are unclear. In this study, we used a genetic screen to isolate mutants with altered pilus activity to identify genes that may be involved in pilus-mediated surface-sensing. This screen identified cpaL, whose deletion led to reduced piliation levels, and surprisingly, a threefold increase in surface adhesion due to increased holdfast production. To understand this finding, we compared hold

SUBMITTER: Charrouf FO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11870444 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature