Retraction of DNA-bound type IV competence pili initiates DNA uptake during natural transformation in Vibrio cholerae.

ABSTRACT: Natural transformation is a broadly conserved mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in bacterial species that can shape evolution and foster the spread of antibiotic resistance determinants, promote antigenic variation and lead to the acquisition of novel virulence factors. Surface appendages called competence pili promote DNA uptake during the first step of natural transformation ¹ ; however, their mechanism of action has remained unclear owing to an absence of methods to visualize these structures in live cells. Here, using the model naturally transformable species Vibrio cholerae and a pilus-labelling method, we define the mechanism for type IV competence pilus-mediated DNA uptake during natural transformation. First, we show that type IV competence pili bind to extracellular

SUBMITTER: Ellison CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6582970 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature