title: A new twist in the assembly of type IV pilus-like fibers.
abstract: The type II secretion system (T2SS) and the type IV pilus system (T4PS) are structurally related molecular machines that reversibly assemble helical fibers in an ATP-dependent manner. In this issue of Structure, Nivaskumar and colleagues provide support for a "spooling" model of T2SS pseudopilus assembly and suggest that the T2S-and by extension, T4P-system motors may operate in a rotary manner to assemble filaments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Diseases Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada. Electronic address: burrowl@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Lori L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Burrows
mesh_terms: D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D041121:Klebsiella oxytoca / Q000166:cytology*