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Comment
. 2022 Nov 15;204(11):e0038622.
doi: 10.1128/jb.00386-22. Epub 2022 Oct 26.

What Glues the Glue to the Cell Surface?

Aretha Fiebig  1
Affiliations
Comment

What Glues the Glue to the Cell Surface?

Aretha Fiebig. J Bacteriol. .

Abstract

In the Caulobacterales, a highly adhesive polysaccharide called the holdfast mediates attachment to exogenous surfaces. The mechanism by which this polysaccharide is anchored to the cell envelope is not well defined. N. K. Chepkwony, G. G. Hardy, and Y. V. Brun (J Bacteriol 204:e00273-22, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.00273-22) report the characterization of HfaE, a localized surface protein with amyloid-like properties that is required for robust holdfast anchoring. This study expands our understanding of the protein factors that attach a bacterial "superglue" to the surface of the cell.

Keywords: Caulobacter crescentus; Hirschia baltica; biofilms; holdfast; surface attachment; unipolar polysaccharide.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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