Electrically Conductive Pili from Pilin Genes of Phylogenetically Diverse Microorganisms

Citations Over Time

Abstract

Abstract The possibility that bacteria other than Geobacter species might contain genes for electrically conductive pili (e-pili) was investigated by heterologously expressing pilin genes of interest in Geobacter sulfurreducens . Strains of G. sulfurreducens producing high current densities, which are only possible with e-pili, were obtained with pilin genes from Flexistipes sinusarabici, Calditerrivibrio nitroreducens , and Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus . The conductance of pili from these strains was comparable to native G. sulfurreducens e-pili. The e-pili derived from C. nitroreducens, and D. alkaliphilus pilin genes are the first examples of relatively long (> 100 amino acids) pilin monomers assembling into e-pili. The pilin gene from Desulfofervidus auxilii did not yield e-pili, suggesting that the hypothesis that this sulfate reducer wires itself to ANME-1 microbes with e-pili to promote anaerobic methane oxidation should be reevaluated. A high density of aromatic amino acids and a lack of substantial aromatic-free gaps along the length of long pilins may be important characteristics leading to e-pili. This study demonstrates a simple method to screen pilin genes from difficult-to-culture microorganisms for their potential to yield e-pili; reveals new potential sources for biologically based electronic materials; and suggests that a wide phylogenetic diversity of microorganisms may employ e-pili for extracellular electron exchange.

Related Papers

• → Pseudomonas aeruginosa Minor Pilins Are Incorporated into Type IV Pili(2010)147 cited
• → Comparisons between Colony Phase Variation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA1090 and Pilus, Pilin, and S-Pilin Expression(1998)56 cited
• → Production of pilus-like filaments in Geobacter sulfurreducens in the absence of the type IV pilin protein PilA(2010)33 cited
• → Pilin expression and processing in pilus mutants of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: critical role of Gly_‐1 in assembly(1991)52 cited
• → Electrically Conductive Pili from Pilin Genes of Phylogenetically Diverse Microorganisms(2017)10 cited