| dc.description.abstract | PilQ is a member of the secretin family of outer membrane proteins and specifically involved in type IV
secretion. Here we report the effects of pilQ mutation in Ralstonia solanacearum on the host physiology
including susceptibility to several phage types (Inoviridae, Podoviridae and Myoviridae). With three lines
of cells, namely wild type,
DpilQ and pilQ-complemented cells, the cell surface proteins, twitching
motility and sensitivity to phages were compared. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the major TFP pilin
(PilA) was specifically lost in pilQ mutants and was recovered in the complemented cells. Drastically
inactivated twitching motility in pilQ mutants was recovered to the wild type level in the complemented
cells. Several phages of different types including those of Inoviridae, Podoviridae, and Myoviridae that
infect wild type cells could not form plaques on pilQ mutants but showed infectivity to pilQ-complemented
cells. These results indicate that PilQ function is generally required for phage infection in
R. solanacearum. | en_US |
