Abstract
The disappearance of F pili on Escherichia coli cells in the presence of 10−2 M NaCN was studied by electron microscopy and serum-blocking power. The pili which disappeared from the cell did not appear as free pili in the culture medium, suggesting that the pili had retracted into the cell. New pili were produced at a normal rate approximately 3 min after NaCN was removed. The adsorption of either F pili antibody or R17 bacteriophage to the sides of pili and temperatures below 24 C prevented retraction. The disappearance of pili was accompanied by a loss in the ability of cells to adsorb R17 phage and the type of F pili antibody that inhibits R17 phage infection and mating. The ability to adsorb M13 phage and the type of F pili antibody that inhibits M13 phage infection was not affected. This suggests that the tips of retracted pili are exposed.
Full text
PDF





Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Achtman M., Willetts N., Clark A. J. Conjugational complementation analysis of transfer-deficient mutants of Flac in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1972 Jun;110(3):831–842. doi: 10.1128/jb.110.3.831-842.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bradley D. E. Shortening of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pili after RNA-phage adsorption. J Gen Microbiol. 1972 Sep;72(2):303–319. doi: 10.1099/00221287-72-2-303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brinton C. C., Jr The properties of sex pili, the viral nature of "conjugal" genetic transfer systems, and some possible approaches to the control of bacterial drug resistance. CRC Crit Rev Microbiol. 1971 May;1(1):105–160. doi: 10.3109/10408417109104479. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Caro L. G., Schnös M. The attachment of the male-specific bacteriophage F1 to sensitive strains of Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1966 Jul;56(1):126–132. doi: 10.1073/pnas.56.1.126. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Curtiss R., 3rd Bacterial conjugation. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1969;23:69–136. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.23.100169.000441. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jacobson A. Role of F pili in the penetration of bacteriophage fl. J Virol. 1972 Oct;10(4):835–843. doi: 10.1128/jvi.10.4.835-843.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lawn A. M., Meynell E. Antibody-stimulated increase in sex pili in R + enterobacteria. Nature. 1972 Feb 25;235(5339):441–442. doi: 10.1038/235441a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Marvin D. A., Hohn B. Filamentous bacterial viruses. Bacteriol Rev. 1969 Jun;33(2):172–209. doi: 10.1128/br.33.2.172-209.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Novotny C. P., Lavin K. Some effects of temperature on the growth of F pili. J Bacteriol. 1971 Sep;107(3):671–682. doi: 10.1128/jb.107.3.671-682.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Novotny C. P., Taylor P. F., Lavin K. Effects of growth inhibitors and ultraviolet irradiation on F pili. J Bacteriol. 1972 Dec;112(3):1083–1089. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.3.1083-1089.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Novotny C., Carnahan J., Brinton C. C., Jr Mechanical removal of F pili, type I pili, and flagella from Hfr and RTF donor cells and the kinetics of their reappearance. J Bacteriol. 1969 Jun;98(3):1294–1306. doi: 10.1128/jb.98.3.1294-1306.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- O'Callaghan R. J., Bundy L., Bradley R., Paranchych W. Unusual arsenate poisoning of the F pili of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1973 Jul;115(1):76–81. doi: 10.1128/jb.115.1.76-81.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ou J. T., Anderson T. F. Role of pili in bacterial conjugation. J Bacteriol. 1970 Jun;102(3):648–654. doi: 10.1128/jb.102.3.648-654.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Willetts N., Achtman M. Genetic analysis of transfer by the Escherichia coli sex factor F, using P1 transductional complementation. J Bacteriol. 1972 Jun;110(3):843–851. doi: 10.1128/jb.110.3.843-851.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]