Pilin
Sign in to savePilin refers to proteins that create pilus structures in bacteria. These structures can be used for the exchange of genetic material, or as a cell adhesion mechanism. Although not all bacteria have pili or fimbriae, bacterial pathogens often use their fimbriae to attach to host cells. In Gram-negative bacteria, where pili are more common, individual pilin molecules are linked by noncovalent protein-protein interactions, while Gram-positive bacteria often have polymerized LPXTG pilin.
~4 min read
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Type IV pilin
- Role of ComP pilin in bacterial transformation
- Chaperone-usher pilin
- Saf, N-terminal extension
- Function
- Structure
- Mechanism
- LPXTG pilin
- Development of molecular tools
- See also
- References
- Further reading
Pilin refers to proteins that create pilus structures in bacteria. These structures can be used for the exchange of genetic material, or as a cell adhesion mechanism. Although not all bacteria have pili or fimbriae, bacterial pathogens often use their fimbriae to attach to host cells. In Gram-negative bacteria, where pili are more common, individual pilin molecules are linked by noncovalent protein-protein interactions, while Gram-positive bacteria often have polymerized LPXTG pilin.
== Type IV pilin ==