Oxygen depletion triggers switching between discrete speed modes of gonococcal type IV pili.

ABSTRACT: Type IV pili are polymeric bacterial appendages that affect host cell interaction, motility, biofilm formation, and horizontal gene transfer. These force-generating motors work in at least three distinct velocity modes-elongation, and retraction at two distinct speeds, high and low. Yet it is unclear which regulatory inputs control their speeds. Here, we addressed this question for the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Using a combination of image analysis and surface analytics, we simultaneously monitored the speed of twitching motility and the concentration of oxygen. While oxygen was detectable, bacteria moved in the high-speed mode (1.5 μm/s). Upon full depletion of oxygen, gonococci simultaneously switched into the low-speed mode (0.5 μm/s). Speed switching was complete within sec

SUBMITTER: Kurre R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3368137 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature