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Type IV pilus retraction in pathogenic Neisseria is regulated by the PilC proteins
Author(s) -
Morand Philippe C,
Bille Emmanuelle,
Morelle Sandrine,
Eugène Emmanuel,
Beretti JeanLuc,
Wolfgang Matthew,
Meyer Thomas F,
Koomey Michael,
Nassif Xavier
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600200
Subject(s) - biology , pilus , neisseria , microbiology and biotechnology , neisseria meningitidis , bacterial protein , fimbriae proteins , bacteria , genetics , gene , escherichia coli
Pathogenic Neisseria express type IV pili (tfp), which have been shown to play a central role in the interactions of bacteria with their environment. The regulation of piliation thus constitutes a central element in bacterial life cycle. The PilC proteins are outer membrane‐associated proteins that have a key role in tfp biogenesis since PilC‐null mutants appear defective for fibre expression. Moreover, tfp are also subjected to retraction, which is under the control of the PilT nucleotide‐binding protein. In this work, we bring evidence that fibre retraction involves the translocation of pilin subunits to the cytoplasmic membrane. Furthermore, by engineering meningococcal strains that harbour inducible pilC genes, and with the use of meningococcus–cell interaction as a model for the sequential observation of fibre expression and retraction, we show that the PilC proteins regulate PilT‐mediated fibre retraction.