Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7
Curli Extracellular Matrix
Izhack Cherny
Weizmann Institute of Science,
Rehovot 76100, Israel
izhack.cherny@weizmann.ac.il
Curli represent a class of highly aggregative thin surface fibres
produced by many
, serving as the proteinaceous
component of the extracellular matrix. Curli are evident to
confer multiple functions to bacteria, either in-host or non-host
environments. Featuring a range of amyloidal characteristics, curli
were classified as functional amyloids. This chapter introduces the
curli extracellular matrix and their components, as well as the curli
regulation and secretion. The chapter focuses on the amyloidogenic
nature of curli, curli biogenesis, and the functions carried out by
these fibres, in an attempt to shed light on how bacteria manage to
exploit amyloid aggregation for their own benefit while avoiding
the consequence associated with the uncontrolled formation
of this state. Taken together, the importance of curli to aspects
Enterobacteriaceae
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