Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-3-19
pubmed:abstractText
Fimbriae are wiry (2 to 4 nm diam.) or rod-shaped (6 to 8 nm diam.), fibre-like structures on the surfaces of bacteria which mediate attachment to host cells. Much has been learned in recent years about the biogenesis, structure and regulation of expression of these adhesive organelles in Gram-negative bacteria. Analyses of the genetic determinants encoding the biogenesis of fimbriae has revealed that the adhesive interaction of fimbriae can be mediated by major subunits (CFA/I and CS1 fimbriae) or minor subunits (P, S, and type 1 fimbriae), with the adhesin being located either at the tip of the fimbria or along the length of the fimbrial shaft. Minor subunits can also act as adapters, anchors, initiators or elongators. Post-translational glycosylation of the type 4 pilins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been demonstrated. The structures of the PapD chaperone of Escherichia coli and of N. gonorrhoeae type 4 fimbrin have been resolved at 2.0-2.6 A. Rod-shaped fimbriae should not be thought of as being rigid inflexible structures but rather as dynamic structures which can undergo transition from a helicoidal to a fibrillar conformation to provide a degree of elasticity and plasticity to the fimbriae so that they can resist shear forces, rather like a bungee cord. At least four mechanisms have been identified in the assembly of fimbriae from fimbrin subunits, namely the chaperone-usher pathway (e.g., P-fimbriae of uropathogenic E. coli), the general secretion assembly pathway (e.g., type 4 fimbriae or N-methylphenylalanine fimbriae of P. aeruginosa, the extracellular nucleation-precipitation pathway (e.g., curli of E. coli) and the CFA/I, CS1 and CS2 fimbrial pathway.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0928-8244
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
16
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
127-39
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-9-3
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Fimbrial adhesins: similarities and variations in structure and biogenesis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland. csmyth@tcd.ie
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't