Question

What is the function of the pilus in a prokaryotic cell?

Answer 1

Answer:

The short attachment pili or fimbriaeare organelles of adhesion allowing bacteria to colonize environmental surfaces or cells and resist flushing. The pilus has a shaft composed of a protein called pilin.

Answer 2

Answer:

Pili in prokaryotic cells are used to avoid attacks of WBC, resist engulfment of phagocytes, and of DNA exchange.

Explanation:

• They are short-hairy structures present on the cell surface of prokaryotic cells.
• They show a rolling movement at times but adhere to the surfaces too.
• The adherence to the surfaces facilitates infection.
• It is a virulence character.
• Pili can be categorized into four groups namely chaperone-usher pathway pili, curli pili, type  IV pili and CS1 pili.
• Pili helps bacteria to avoid attacks by white blood cells.
• Streptococcus pyogenes have M-protein and pili. Pili can resist the phagocyte's engulfment.
• Pili is also involved in the exchange of genetic materials called F pili.
• They are also involved in conjugation, the transfer of genetic material between cells. Hence, conjugation pilus is called sex pilus or F pilus. Example: F pilus is found in E.coli.

Hence, Pili is used in many ways by prokaryotic cells.