To understand how bacteria can use pili to attach to surfaces, move themselves and become more virulent...

Sept. 13, 2017

Some bacteria are capable of using a "grappling hook" to move themselves. They extend pili to attach to surfaces and retract them to pull themselves toward the point of attachment. In some cases, these pili are essential for the disease process of virulent bacteria. Using data collected at the CMCF, researchers have characterized the "motor" of one such protein system, known as the Type IVa Pilus (T4aP). X-ray crystal structures allowed researchers to deduce a mechanism whereby ATP binds the core ATPase domains, driving the actions of the pili. PDB ID 5TSG.