Science and Mathematics Faculty Publications
PilJ Localizes to Cell Poles and Is Required for Type IV Pilus Extension in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2007
Journal Title
Current Microbiology
ISSN
0343-8651
Volume
55
Issue
5
First Page
389
Last Page
395
DOI
10.1007/s00284-007-9008-5
Abstract
Twitching motility allows Pseudomonas aeruginosa to respond to stimuli by extending and retracting its type IV pili (TFP). PilJ is a protein necessary for this surface-associated twitching motility and bears high sequence identity with Escherichia coli methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCP). Here, we report that whereas wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO1 cells have extended pili at a single pole, pilJ mutant cells have shortened pili often at both poles despite normal levels of pilin accumulation, suggesting that PilJ is required for full TFP assembly/extension. Using yellow fluorescent protein fusions (pilJ-yfp), both plasmid born and in-frame chromosomal constructs, we determined that PilJ localizes to both poles of the cell. Overexpression of pilJ-yfp resulted in the protein accumulating between the poles.
Keywords
Pseudomonas, Twitching motility, Type IV pili
Recommended Citation
DeLange, Paul A.; Collins, Tracy L.; Pierce, George E.; and Robinson, Jayne B., "PilJ Localizes to Cell Poles and Is Required for Type IV Pilus Extension in Pseudomonas aeruginosa" (2007). Science and Mathematics Faculty Publications. 379.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/science_and_mathematics_publications/379
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
