PilT and PilU are homohexameric ATPases that coordinate to retract type IVa pili.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial type IV pili are critical for diverse biological processes including horizontal gene transfer, surface sensing, biofilm formation, adherence, motility, and virulence. These dynamic appendages extend and retract from the cell surface. In many type IVa pilus systems, extension occurs through the action of an extension ATPase, often called PilB, while optimal retraction requires the action of a retraction ATPase, PilT. Many type IVa systems also encode a homolog of PilT called PilU. However, the function of this protein has remained unclear because pilU mutants exhibit inconsistent phenotypes among type IV pilus systems and because it is relatively understudied compared to PilT. Here, we study the type IVa competence pilus of Vibrio cholerae as a model system to define the role of P

SUBMITTER: Chlebek JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6821130 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature