Multiple Pilus Motors Cooperate for Persistent Bacterial Movement in Two Dimensions

Holz C, Opitz D, Greune L, Kurre R, Koomey M, Schmidt MA, Maier B

Abstract

In various bacterial species surface motility is mediated by cycles of type IV pilus motor elongation, adhesion, and retraction, but it is unclear whether bacterial movement follows a random walk. Here we show that the correlation time of persistent movement in Neisseria gonorrhoeae increases with the number of pili. The unbinding force of individual pili from the surface F = 10 pN was considerably lower than the stalling force F > 100 pN, suggesting that density, force, and adhesive properties of the pilus motor enable a tug-of-war mechanism for bacterial movement.