Abstract
Interactions with Host Cells Causes Neisseria meningitidis Pili to Become Unglued
Highlights
Type IV pili are long filamentous appendages containing multiple protein subunits, the major component of which is the main pilus subunit
Serine 63 is modified by O-linked glycosylation, serine 68 is modified by either PE or PC, and PG has been identified as a modification of serine 93 (Stimson et al, 1995, 1996; Forest et al, 1999; Hegge et al, 2004). These post-translational modifications in turn exert an influence on pilus morphology and pilus-mediated adherence to human cells, as loss of glycosylation increases N. meningitidis adherence (Marceau et al, 1998), and loss of the PE/ PC modification results in increased pilus bundling in N. gonorrhoeae, but does not affect adherence (Forest et al, 1999)
Alterations in the ability of N. meningitidis to form bundled pili and to adhere to host cells has implications for its ability to both grow in microcolonies on the infected cell surface, and its ability to detach from cells to mediate dissemination
Summary
Type IV pili are long filamentous appendages containing multiple protein subunits, the major component of which is the main pilus subunit (pilin). The extent of pilus bundling appears to affect the degree of bacterial adherence to cells, as well as the propensity to grow in microcolonies (Marceau et al, 1995). These post-translational modifications in turn exert an influence on pilus morphology and pilus-mediated adherence to human cells, as loss of glycosylation increases N. meningitidis adherence (Marceau et al, 1998), and loss of the PE/ PC modification results in increased pilus bundling in N. gonorrhoeae, but does not affect adherence (Forest et al, 1999).
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