Two isoforms of Geobacter sulfurreducens PilA have distinct roles in pilus biogenesis, cytochrome localization, extracellular electron transfer, and biofilm formation.

Autor: Richter LV; Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA., Sandler SJ, Weis RM
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of bacteriology [J Bacteriol] 2012 May; Vol. 194 (10), pp. 2551-63. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Mar 09.
DOI: 10.1128/JB.06366-11
Abstrakt: Type IV pili of Geobacter sulfurreducens are composed of PilA monomers and are essential for long-range extracellular electron transfer to insoluble Fe(III) oxides and graphite anodes. A previous analysis of pilA expression indicated that transcription was initiated at two positions, with two predicted ribosome-binding sites and translation start codons, potentially producing two PilA preprotein isoforms. The present study supports the existence of two functional translation start codons for pilA and identifies two isoforms (short and long) of the PilA preprotein. The short PilA isoform is found predominantly in an intracellular fraction. It seems to stabilize the long isoform and to influence the secretion of several outer-surface c-type cytochromes. The long PilA isoform is required for secretion of PilA to the outer cell surface, a process that requires coexpression of pilA with nine downstream genes. The long isoform was determined to be essential for biofilm formation on certain surfaces, for optimum current production in microbial fuel cells, and for growth on insoluble Fe(III) oxides.
Databáze: MEDLINE