Novel class of mutations of pilS mutants, encoding plasmid R64 type IV prepilin: interface of PilS-PilV interactions.
The type IV pili of plasmid R64 belonging to the type IVB group are required only for liquid mating. They consist of the major and minor components PilS pilin and PilV adhesin, respectively. PilS pilin is first synthesized as a 22-kDa prepilin from the pilS gene and is then processed to a 19-kDa mature pilin by PilU prepilin peptidase. In a previous genetic analysis, we identified four classes of the pilS mutants (T. Horiuchi and T. Komano, J. Bacteriol. 180:4613-4620, 1998). The products of the class I pilS mutants were not processed by prepilin peptidase; the products of the class II mutants were not secreted; in the class III mutants type IV pili with reduced activities in liquid mating were produced; and in the class IV mutants type IV pili with normal activities were produced. Here, we describe a novel class, class V, of pilS mutants. Mutations in the pilS gene at Gly-56 or Tyr-57 produced type IV pili lacking PilV adhesin, which were inactive in liquid mating. Residues 56 and 57 of PilS pilin are suggested to function as an interface of PilS-PilV interactions.
Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiohsawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan.
Eriko
E
Shimoda
Tatsuya
T
Muto
Takayuki
T
Horiuchi
Nobuhisa
N
Furuya
Teruya
T
Komano
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005998:Glycine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C077573:PilV protein, Bacteria; D014157:Transcription Factors; C080687:pilS protein, Bacteria; D014443:Tyrosine; D005998:Glycine