Open AccessPpdD Type IV Pilin of Escherichia coli K-12 Can Be Assembled into Pili in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Author(s) -
Nathalie Sauvonnet,
Pierre Gou,
Anthony P. Pugsley
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.182.3.848-854.2000
Subject(s) - pilin , pilus , biology , operon , escherichia coli , pseudomonas aeruginosa , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , fimbriae proteins , structural gene , genetics , bacteria
Escherichia coli K-12 possesses at least 16 chromosomal genes related to genes involved in the formation of type IV pili in other gram-negative bacteria. However,E. coli K-12 does not produce type IV pili when grown under standard laboratory conditions. The results of reverse transcription-PCR, operon fusion analysis, and immunoblotting demonstrated that several of the putativeE. coli piliation genes are expressed at very low levels. Increasing the level of expression of the major pilin gene (ppdD ) and the linked assembly geneshofB andhofC (homologues of thePseudomonas aeruginosa type IV pilus assembly genespilB andpilC ) did not lead to pilus production. However, expression of theppdD gene inP. aeruginosa led to assembly of PpdD into pili that were recognized by antibodies directed against the PpdD protein. Assembly of PpdD into pili inP. aeruginosa was dependent on the expression of thepilB andpilC genes and independent of expression of theP. aeruginosa pilin structural genepilA.