biostudies-literatureEllison CKNIAID NIH HHSDamon Runyon Cancer Research FoundationNIGMS NIH HHSDivision of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases6334https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9596432biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)In mammals, subcellular protein localization of factors like planar cell polarity proteins is a key driver of the multicellular organization of tissues. Bacteria also form organized multicellular communities, but these patterns are largely thought to emerge from regulation of whole-cell processes like growth, motility, cell shape, and differentiation. Here we show that a unique intracellular patterning of appendages known as type IV pili (T4P) can drive multicellular development of complex bacterial communities. Specifically, dynamic T4P appendages localize in a line along the long axis of the cell in the bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi. This long-axis localization is regulated by a functionally divergent chemosensory Pil-Chp system, and an atypical T4P protein homologue (FimV) bridges Pil-Nature communicationsSubcellular localization of type IV pili regulates bacterial multicellular development.PMC95964321DP1AI124669-01DP1 AI124669R35 GM128674R01 GM082938DRG-2385-20Dalia ABGitai ZFei CWingreen NSEllison CKShaevitz JWDalia TNfalseSubcellular localization of type IV pili regulates bacterial multicellular development.In mammals, subcellular protein localization of factors like planar cell polarity proteins is a key driver of the multicellular organization of tissues. Bacteria also form organized multicellular communities, but these patterns are largely thought to emerge from regulation of whole-cell processes like growth, motility, cell shape, and differentiation. Here we show that a unique intracellular patterning of appendages known as type IV pili (T4P) can drive multicellular development of complex bacterial communities. Specifically, dynamic T4P appendages localize in a line along the long axis of the cell in the bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi. This long-axis localization is regulated by a functionally divergent chemosensory Pil-Chp system, and an atypical T4P protein homologue (FimV) bridges Pil-2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2026-06-03T10:34:47.836Z2025-04-19T12:05:15.293ZS-EPMC95964323628409610.1038/s41467-022-33564-7