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Bacterial Structures > Pili, Sex
Cells > Cellular Structures > Cell Surface Extensions > Pili, Sex

Preferred term

Pili, Sex  

Type

  • Topical Descriptor

Broader concept

Related concepts

Entry terms

  • Conjugative Pili
  • Conjugative Pilus
  • Pili, Conjugative
  • Pilus, Conjugative
  • Pilus, Sex
  • Sex Pili
  • Sex Pilus

Note

  • do not confuse with COMMON PILI see FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL

Scope note

  • Filamentous or elongated proteinaceous structures which extend from the cell surface in gram-negative bacteria that contain certain types of conjugative plasmid. These pili are the organs associated with genetic transfer and have essential roles in conjugation. Normally, only one or a few pili occur on a given donor cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed, p675) This preferred use of "pili" refers to the sexual appendage, to be distinguished from bacterial fimbriae (FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL), also known as common pili, which are usually concerned with adhesion.

History note

  • 95

In other languages

URI

http://www.yso.fi/onto/mesh/D018933

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