The F pilus serves as a conduit for the DNA during conjugation between physically distant bacteria

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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Conjugative Mating Assays for Sequence-specific Analysis of Transfer Proteins Involved in Bacterial Conjugation
10:41

Conjugative Mating Assays for Sequence-specific Analysis of Transfer Proteins Involved in Bacterial Conjugation

Published on: January 4, 2017

13.9K

Kelly Goldlust1, Adrien Ducret1, Manuel Halte2

  • 1Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, UMR5086, Lyon 69007, France.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|November 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial conjugation, mediated by the F pilus, can transfer antibiotic resistance genes between distant cells, not just those in direct contact. This finding revises our understanding of how bacteria spread drug resistance and virulence factors.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Horizontal gene transfer via bacterial conjugation disseminates antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in Enterobacteriaceae.
  • The F pilus is crucial for initiating cell-to-cell contact during conjugation.
  • The mechanism of DNA transfer, particularly whether it occurs through extended or retracted pili, is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the F pilus in DNA transfer between physically distant bacterial cells.
  • To clarify the mechanism of DNA transfer during bacterial conjugation.

Main Methods:

  • Live-cell microscopy was employed to observe bacterial conjugation events.
  • The study focused on F-like plasmid transfer in pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae.

Main Results:

  • While most DNA transfer occurred between directly contacting cells, the F pilus was also shown to facilitate transfer between physically distant cells.
  • The F pilus can act as a conduit for DNA transfer even when extended.

Conclusions:

  • The F pilus can mediate DNA transfer between non-contacting cells, revising the current model of bacterial conjugation.
  • This mechanism has significant implications for understanding the spread of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in bacterial communities.
Keywords:
F Pilusbacterial conjugationdrug resistance disseminationhorizontal gene transfer

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