Abstract
SummaryIn the diverse world of bacterial pili, type IV pili (Tfp) are unique for two reasons: their multifunctionality and ubiquity. This latter feature offers an extraordinary possibility, that is, to perform comparative studies in evolutionarily distant species in order to improve our fragmentary understanding of Tfp biology. Regrettably, such potential has remained largely untapped, because, for 20 years, Tfp have only been characterised in diderm bacteria. However, recent studies of Tfp in monoderms have started closing the gap, revealing many interesting commonalities and a few significant differences, extending the frontiers of knowledge of Tfp biology. Here, I review the current state of the art of the Tfp field in monoderm bacteria and discuss resulting implications for our general understanding of the assembly and function of these widespread filamentous nanomachines.
Highlights
In the diverse world of bacterial pili, type IV pili (Tfp) are unique for two reasons: their multifunctionality and ubiquity
The study of Tfp in monoderms is still in its infancy, it is obvious that these filaments are not mere curiosities distantly related to Tfp in diderm models but bona fide Tfp, which might represent the long sought new research avenue capable of filling important gaps in our understanding of Tfp biology
The key advantage of monoderms is the simplicity of their Tfp biogenesis machineries, which stems from their simpler surface architecture
Summary
In the diverse world of bacterial pili, type IV pili (Tfp) are unique for two reasons: their multifunctionality and ubiquity. This latter feature offers an extraordinary possibility, that is, to perform comparative studies in evolutionarily distant species in order to improve our fragmentary understanding of Tfp biology. Such potential has remained largely untapped, because, for 20 years, Tfp have only been characterised in diderm bacteria. I review the current state of the art of the Tfp field in monoderm bacteria and discuss resulting implications for our general understanding of the assembly and function of these widespread filamentous nanomachines
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