Filamentous
appendages
Lab 1 Group 3
Introduction
what are filamentous appendages?
Filamentous appendages are
elongated, thin, and thread-
like structures that protrude
from the surface of various
organisms, ranging from
microscopic bacteria to
large marine animals.
Pili
Pili play a role in bacterial sexual
reproduction (also known as
conjugation) and facilitate attachment
and DNA transfer. There are two main
types of pili, Cunjugative pili also known
as sex pili , conjugative pili are some of
the most common bacterial pili. These
structures are involved in the transfer of
genetic material from one cell to
another.
And Type IV Pili are a type of Pili found in
some Gram-positive bacteria (e.g.,
clostridia) and the majority of Gram-
negative bacteria. They have several
important functions ranging from their
role in locomotion to DNA exchange.
Flagella/flagellum
Flagella are long, rope-like organelles
used primarily for cellular motility –
although in some organisms they may
also play a sensory role.2 Although they
are most commonly found on bacteria,
they are also present on a variety of
eukaryotes, including algal, fungal and
some animal cells.
Fimbriae
There are several types of fimbriae which
Also known as "attachment pili", fimbriae include:
are shorter compared to pili and
numerous in number (ranging from 100
to 600 filaments per cell). Type I Fimbriae
Type III Fimbriae
Depending on the type of bacteria, Curli Fimbriae
fimbriae may be located at the poles of
the cell or evenly distributed over the
surface of the bacterial cell. Because
they are shorter, fimbriae are stiffer
compared to pili. [1]
Structure
The types of appendages in bacteria are flagella, fimbriae and
pili. And they are used for motility and attachment. A flagellum
is a whip-like structure that allows a cell to move.
Pili and fimbriae are proteinaceous, hair-like
structures/appendages that extend from the cytoplasmic
membrane of a variety of bacteria.
Compared to flagella, they are both shorter and thinner in size.
However, they are also different from each other and have
several functions. While they can be found in some Gram-
positive bacteria, they are some of the most common features
of all Gram-negative bacteria.[2]
Primary
Functions
Motility - Apart from adhesion, motility is one
They serve a variety of functions, of the other important functions of type IV
including movement, sensing the pili. Because of the ability of the pili to
environment, and attachment to retract, they make it possible for the
surfaces. bacterial cell to move along surfaces through
a process known as twitching motility. In
Adhesion - Adherence is one of the general, this type of motility takes place
primary functions of Type IV pili. In through three main stages that include
addition to attaching a bacterial cell to extension, tethering, and retraction.[3]
different types of surfaces, the filament
also allows the cell to adhere to other
bacteria.
Interactions with other organelle
Fimbriae are a pivotal factor to adhere to host cell surface,
extracellular matrix proteins, and coaggregation of oral
bacteria and to invade into host cells [4]
Cytoskeleton
Filamentous appendages connect to the cytoskeleton,
providing structural support and allowing movement within
the cell.[5]
Importance
Filamentous appendages plays a significant role in bacterial pathogensis,
filamentous appendages are essential structures that contribute to the
survival, colonization, and pathogenesis of bacteria. They facilitate
adherence to surfaces, genetic exchange, and motility, allowing bacteria
to interact with their environment and other organisms in diverse ways.
Understanding the role of these appendages is crucial in developing
strategies to combat bacterial infections and control the spread of
disease.[6]
REFERENCES
[1] Pili and Fimbriae - Types, function and differences. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.microscopemaster.com/pili-and-fimbriae.html
[2] Pili and Fimbriae - Types, function and differences. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.microscopemaster.com/pili-and-fimbriae.html
Collén, J., Cornish, M. L., Craigie, J., Ficko-Blean, E., Hervé, C., Krueger-Hadfield, S. A.,
[3] . . . Boyen, C. (2014). Chondrus crispus – A Present and Historical Model Organism
for Red Seaweeds. In Advances in botanical research (pp. 53–89).
https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-408062-1.00003-2
[4] Hermansen, S., Linke, D., & Leo, J. C. (2022). Transmembrane β-barrel proteins of
bacteria: From structure to function. Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural
Biology, 113–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apcsb.2021.07.002
ibiology. (2020, July 16). Session 6: Cytoskeletal Motor Proteins. Retrieved from
[5] https://www.ibiology.org/sessions/session-6-cytoskeletal-motor-proteins/
Habenstein, B., & Loquet, A. (2017). Bacterial filamentous appendages investigated
[6] by Solid-State NMR spectroscopy. Methods in Molecular Biology, 415–448.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7033-9_29
Thank
you
