Bacterial twitching motility is coordinated by a two-dimensional tug-of-war with directional memory.
Nat Commun
; 5: 3759, 2014 May 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24806757
ABSTRACT
Type IV pili are ubiquitous bacterial motors that power surface motility. In peritrichously piliated species, it is unclear how multiple pili are coordinated to generate movement with directional persistence. Here we use a combined theoretical and experimental approach to test the hypothesis that multiple pili of Neisseria gonorrhoeae are coordinated through a tug-of-war. Based on force-dependent unbinding rates and pilus retraction speeds measured at the level of single pili, we build a tug-of-war model. Whereas the one-dimensional model robustly predicts persistent movement, the two-dimensional model requires a mechanism of directional memory provided by re-elongation of fully retracted pili and pilus bundling. Experimentally, we confirm memory in the form of bursts of pilus retractions. Bursts are seen even with bundling suppressed, indicating re-elongation from stable core complexes as the key mechanism of directional memory. Directional memory increases the surface range explored by motile bacteria and likely facilitates surface colonization.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estresse Mecânico
/
Fímbrias Bacterianas
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Proteínas de Fímbrias
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Movimento
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Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article