Mechanosensing: a regulation sensation

Abstract

Mechanosensing of surfaces in bacteria is a process that often uses obstruction of flagellum rotation to trigger behaviors such as adhesion and surface-associated movement. In a recent publication, the PilY1 protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been implicated as a novel mechanosensor that stimulates virulence in response to surface attachment.

Figure 1

Various mechanisms of mechanosensing. (A) von Willebrand factor (vWF) is secreted from endothelial cells upon cell damage. It senses changes in shear force associated with blood flow toward cell damage and undergoes a conformational change that allows binding of platelets to cause coagulation. The lightning bolt represents the mechanical signal. (B) A Caulobacter crescentus swarmer cell detecting a surface via pili-mediated flagellum obstruction resulting in holdfast secretion. (C) A Pseudomonas aeruginosa cell sensing mechanical stimuli through the pilus-associated PilY1 protein to induce host cell death.