Silverman P M
Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City 73104, USA.
Mol Microbiol. 1997 Feb;23(3):423-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1997.2411604.x.
Horizontal DNA transfer among bacteria (conjugation) requires the formation of secure intercellular contacts before DNA transfer can occur. The formation of such contacts among Gram-negative bacteria is mediated by conjugative pili. Like other pili, conjugative pili are filaments extending from the surface of donor cells. They are composed, in so far as is known, entirely of conjugative pilin subunits. Here, we review the structure of F-pilin, the subunit of which F-pili are composed. We emphasize recent studies suggesting a specific domain organization for F-pilin and present a model of how these domains might be arranged in filament subunits.
细菌间的水平DNA转移（接合作用）需要在DNA转移发生之前形成稳固的细胞间接触。革兰氏阴性菌之间此类接触的形成是由接合菌毛介导的。与其他菌毛一样，接合菌毛是从供体细胞表面伸出的细丝。就目前所知，它们完全由接合菌毛蛋白亚基组成。在此，我们综述了F菌毛蛋白（构成F菌毛的亚基）的结构。我们着重介绍了近期研究提出的F菌毛蛋白特定结构域组织，并展示了这些结构域在丝状亚基中可能的排列模型。
