Pilus genes of Neisseria gonorrheae: chromosomal organization and DNA sequence

We have mapped two regions of the Neisseria gonorrheae genome, pilE1 and pilE2, which are involved in pilus expression. When the cells are in the piliated P+ state, these two loci carry sequences necessary for pilin production. A silent locus, pilS1, also maps near pilE1 and pilE2. pilS1 contains structural gene information but lacks pilus promoter sequences. The pilus gene sequences in pilE1 and pilE2 are identical in strain MS11.