Pili and Flagella Flashcards
Explain the 3 Bacteria appendages and what their functions are
1) flagella: locomotion
2) Pili and fimbriae: adhesion
3) Sex pili: Transfer of DNA
Pili are widespread in what classification of bacteria?
Pili is widespread in GRAM NEGATIVE and rare in positiev
True or False, pili are normally Peritrichous along the cell
True (all over the cell surface)
Explain Pili’s structure and mobility
Pili are straight rods unlike flagella (helical)
Pili cant move/rotate unlike flagella
Pili have a simple base unlike flagella which have a complex base
what is the only type of pili that is used for a little bit of motility in pathogenesis?
Type 4 (IV) pili creates a twitching motility which is surface mediated. It is NOT swimming
What is UPEC?
An E. Coli that has specialized Pili that cause urinary tract infections
E. Coli Pap Pili: explain Pap G
G is the actual adhesion at very tip of the pili on the pili fibre
E. Coli Pap Pili: explain Pap F
F is the adhesion adapter that connects the G adhesion to the pili fibre
E. Coli Pap Pili: explain Pap E
E is the major component of the pili fibre
E. Coli Pap Pili: explain Pap K
K is the adapter that connects the pili fibre (mainly E) to the main pilus structure
E. Coli Pap Pili: explain Pap A
Pap A is the bulk of the pilus rod
E. Coli Pap Pili: explain Pap H
anchors the rod (A) to the cell
E. Coli Pap Pili: explain Pap D
Pap D is a chaperone protein inside the periplasmic space
E. Coli Pap Pili: explain Pap C
Pap C is located in the outer membrane and it removes incoming proteins from chaperone Pap D
Explain G-FEKAH’ CD
This is the the order of the PAP regions from furthest from the cell to the periplasm.
Explain Pili synthesis up until Pap C (4 points)
- translated Pap subunits are normally made as precursor with a signal peptide
- signal peptides tell cell it needs to be exported
- as the cell is exported out of the PM, the signal peptide is cut off
- Pap D binds the subunit in the periplasm and delivers it to Pap C in the outer membrane
what occurs if Pap D becomes mutated?
No pilus will form and subunits will degrade in periplasm!!
Explain the second half of Pili synthesis (3 points)
- Pap C creates a donut like spore that feeds the pilus out of the OM
- Assembly starts with furthest out proteins therefore Pap G is the first subunit
- Major shaft proteins come in (Pap A) until one pap H comes which terminates the pilus
how many Pap H does it take to stop pilus growth?
one. On avg pilus have 1000 pap A’s