5uvr

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses long, thin fibres called type IV pili (T4P) for adherence to surfaces, biofilm formation, and twitching motility. A conserved subcomplex of PilMNOP is required for extension and retraction of T4P. To better understand its function, we attempted to co-crystallize the soluble periplasmic portions of PilNOP, using reductive surface methylation to promote crystal formation. Only PilODelta109 crystallized; its structure was determined to 1.7 A resolution using molecular replacement. This new structure revealed two novel features: a shorter N-terminal alpha1-helix followed by a longer unstructured loop, and a discontinuous beta-strand in the second alphabetabeta motif, mirroring that in the first motif. PISA analysis identified a potential dimer interface with striking similarity to that of the PilO homolog EpsM from the Vibrio cholerae type II secretion system. We identified highly conserved residues within predicted unstructured regions in PilO proteins from various Pseudomonads and performed site-directed mutagenesis to assess their role in T4P function. R169D and I170A substitutions decreased surface piliation and twitching motility without disrupting PilO homodimer formation. These residues could form important protein-protein interactions with PilN or PilP. This work furthers our understanding of residues critical for T4aP function.

Conserved, unstructured regions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PilO are important for type IVa pilus function.,Leighton TL, Mok MC, Junop MS, Howell PL, Burrows LL Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 8;8(1):2600. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20925-w. PMID:29422606^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.