Probing the stability of the C-terminal domain of type IV pilins under external force

Abstract

Type IV pili (T4P) are long bio-filaments, assembled from many copies of a protein called pilin, which emanate from the surface of bacterial cells (Fig. 1). They are used to adhere to other surfaces and other cells. T4P are implicated in persistent infection, twitching motility and bacterial microcolony formation. Due to their role in surface attachment, T4P filaments are often under large tension forces. Therefore, it is important to understand the influence of force on T4P filaments and the pilin subunits that they are are comprised of.