A Type IV Pilus Mediates DNA Binding during Natural Transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae

PLoS Pathogens

Nathalie Campo¹  Gérard Péhau-Arnaudet¹  Sonia Baconnais¹  Jean-Pierre Claverys¹  Christian Malosse¹  Rémi Fronzes²  Raphaël Laurenceau³  Eric Le Cam³  Annick Dujeancourt⁴  Julia Chamot-Rooke⁴  Joseph Gault⁵ 

[1] CNRS, UMR3528, Paris, France;CNRS, UMR5100, Toulouse, France;Institut Pasteur, Groupe Biologie Structurale de la Sécrétion Bactérienne, Paris, France;Institut Pasteur, Unité de Spectrométrie de Masse Structurale et Protéomique, Paris, France;Maintenance des Génomes et Microscopies Moléculaire, UMR 8126 CNRS-Université Paris Sud, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

关键词: Pili;    fimbriae;    Pneumococcus;    Gram positive bacteria;    Gram negative bacteria;    Bacillus subtilis;    DNA-binding proteins;    Electron microscopy;    Operons;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1003473

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Natural genetic transformation is widely distributed in bacteria and generally occurs during a genetically programmed differentiated state called competence. This process promotes genome plasticity and adaptability in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Transformation requires the binding and internalization of exogenous DNA, the mechanisms of which are unclear. Here, we report the discovery of a transformation pilus at the surface of competent Streptococcus pneumoniae cells. This Type IV-like pilus, which is primarily composed of the ComGC pilin, is required for transformation. We provide evidence that it directly binds DNA and propose that the transformation pilus is the primary DNA receptor on the bacterial cell during transformation in S. pneumoniae. Being a central component of the transformation apparatus, the transformation pilus enables S. pneumoniae, a major Gram-positive human pathogen, to acquire resistance to antibiotics and to escape vaccines through the binding and incorporation of new genetic material.

【 授权许可】

CC BY