Bacterial pili, dynamics, and function

A significant proportion of prokaryotic cells invest substantial energy in producing extracellular appendages, known as flagella and pili, which extend microns from the cell surface. Historically, all hair-like, non-flagellar appendages on bacterial surfaces were broadly classified as "pili," but it is now clear that there are distinct classes of pili with very different functions. We and others are continuously discovering new classes of pili. These protein polymers, often comprising over ten thousand protein subunits per filament, impose considerable metabolic demands on bacteria, including protein synthesis, transport, assembly, and the subsequent operation of the appendage.  This considerable energy expenditure underscores the importance of these appendages in bacterial survival and adaptation to diverse environments. The long-term goal of my research program is to integrate structural, biophysical, genetic, and protein engineering approaches to understand the structure, production regulation, and function of microbial appendages, particularly in the context of pathogenic bacteria.