title: Tying rings for sex.
abstract: The primary component of the sex pilus encoded by IncP (RP4) and Ti plasmids has been identified as a circular pilin protein with a peptide bond between the amino and carboxyl terminus. Here, we review the key experiments that led to this discovery, and the present mechanistic model for pilin-precursor processing and the cyclization reaction. In addition, we discuss the implications for horizontal gene transfer in bacterial conjugation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021-6399, USA.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalkum
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eisenbrandt
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lurz
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lanka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D033903:Periplasmic Proteins; D018933:Pili, Sex / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D033903:Periplasmic Proteins; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins