Universität zu Köln

Dewenter, Lena, Volkmann, Thorsten E. and Maier, Berenike ORCID: 0000-0001-6971-9927 (2015). Oxygen governs gonococcal microcolony stability by enhancing the interaction force between type IV pili. Integr. Biol., 7 (10). S. 1161 - 1171. OXFORD: OXFORD UNIV PRESS. ISSN 1757-9708

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Abstract

The formation of small bacterial clusters, called microcolonies, is the first step towards the formation of bacterial biofilms. The human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae requires type IV pili (T4P) for microcolony formation and for surface motility. Here, we investigated the effect of oxygen on the dynamics of microcolony formation. We found that an oxygen concentration exceeding 3 mu M is required for formation and maintenance of microcolonies. Depletion of proton motive force triggers microcolony disassembly. Disassembly of microcolonies is actively driven by T4P retraction. Using laser tweezers we showed that under aerobic conditions T4P-T4P interaction forces exceed 50 pN. Under anaerobic conditions T4P-T4P interaction is severely inhibited. We conclude that oxygen is required for gonococcal microcolony formation by enhancing pilus-pilus interaction.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Dewenter, Lena UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Volkmann, Thorsten E. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Maier, Berenike UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-6971-9927 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-415407
DOI:	10.1039/c5ib00018a
Journal or Publication Title:	Integr. Biol.
Volume:	7
Number:	10
Page Range:	S. 1161 - 1171
Date:	2015
Publisher:	OXFORD UNIV PRESS
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	1757-9708
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Physics > Institut für Biologische Physik
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE; TWITCHING MOTILITY; NATURAL TRANSFORMATION; MINOR PILINS; DNA-BINDING; FLAGELLA; IDENTIFICATION; COMPETENCE; RETRACTION; COMPONENTS Multiple languages Cell Biology Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/41540