DNA uptake by type IV filaments

Kurt H. Piepenbrink

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bacterial uptake of DNA through type IV filaments is an essential component of natural competence in numerous gram-positive and gram-negative species. Recent advances in the field have broadened our understanding of the structures used to take up extracellular DNA. Here, we review seminal experiments in the literature describing DNA binding by type IV pili, competence pili and the flp pili of Micrococcus luteus; collectively referred to here as type IV filaments. We compare the current state of the field on mechanisms of DNA uptake for these three appendage systems and describe the current mechanistic understanding of both DNA-binding and DNA-uptake by these versatile molecular machines.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number00001
JournalFrontiers in Molecular Biosciences
Volume6
Issue numberFEB
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Competence pili
  • DNA-binding
  • Flp pili
  • Horizontal gene transfer
  • Natural competence
  • Type IV pili

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)

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