Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Cells > Cellular Structures > Cell Surface Extensions > Pili, Sex Terms and Definitions

Pili, Sex

Medical Definition:	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.
Guide Notes:	note X refs: do not confuse with COMMON PILI see FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL; coord IM with specific bacterium (IM); A 11 qualif except /cytol; /genet permitted
Previously Indexed:	Fimbriae, Bacterial (1980-1994),specific bacteria/cytology (1969-1974),specific bacteria/ultrastructure (1975-1979)

CANADIAN MEDICAL GUIDE

Thank you for visiting Canadian Medical Guide .com