Isopeptide Bonds Block the Mechanical Extension of Pilins in Gram-Positive Bacteria

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Pathogenic bacteria use long, fibrous structures known as pili to attach to host cells. In Gram-positive bacteria, the pili shaft is formed by the covalent polymerization of the so-called major pilin protein. Accessory pilins, usually with adhesive properties, are located along the pilus shaft interspersed with the major pilin, and/or at the tip of the pilus. In this work, the mechanical behavior of Spy0128, the major pilin from Streptococcus pyogenes (M1 serotype), has been studied by single-molecule force spectroscopy.