Bacterial translocation motors investigated by single molecule techniques -
Allemand, Jean-Francois and Maier, BerenikeFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS 33,
593-610 (2009) LPS
Abstract : Translocation of DNA and protein fibers through narrow constrictions is
a ubiquitous and crucial activity of bacterial cells. Bacteria use
specialized machines to support macromolecular movement. A very
important step toward a mechanistic understanding of these translocation
machines is the characterization of their physical properties at the
single molecule level. Recently, four bacterial transport processes have
been characterized by nanomanipulation at the single molecule level, DNA
translocation by FtsK and SpoIIIE, DNA import during transformation, and
the related process of a type IV pilus retraction. With all four
processes, the translocation rates, processivity, and stalling forces
were remarkably high as compared with single molecule experiments with
other molecular motors. Although substrates of all four processes
proceed along a preferential direction of translocation, directionality
has been shown to be controlled by distinct mechanisms.