Multiple pilus motors cooperate for persistent bacterial movement in two dimensions.
In various bacterial species surface motility is mediated by cycles of type IV pilus motor elongation, adhesion, and retraction, but it is unclear whether bacterial movement follows a random walk. Here we show that the correlation time of persistent movement in Neisseria gonorrhoeae increases with the number of pili. The unbinding force of individual pili from the surface F=10 pN was considerably lower than the stalling force F>100 pN, suggesting that density, force, and adhesive properties of the pilus motor enable a tug-of-war mechanism for bacterial movement.
Holz
Claudia
C
Institut für Molekulare Zellbiologie, Schlossplatz 5, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
Opitz
Dirk
D
Greune
Lilo
L
Kurre
Rainer
R
Koomey
Michael
M
Schmidt
M Alexander
MA
Maier
Berenike
B
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry
D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; C017251:1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine