Bacterial type IVa pili are protein filaments used for motility and protein secretion. Here the authors present crystal structures of theGeobacter metallireducensPilB ATPase in two nucleotide states, and suggest a clockwise rotation of the central sub-pores of PilB that would support the assembly of a right-handed helical pilus.
- Matthew McCallum
- Stephanie Tammam
- P. Lynne Howell
