On the role of pili in transformation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Transformation of competent transformable Neisseria gonorrhoeae F62 to streptomycin resistance was unaffected by antibodies directed against the pilus protein (pilin) of this organism. The pilin component of either crude or purified pilus preparations, separated by SDS gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose, failed to bind detectable amounts of DNA; DNA binding to other gonococcal polypeptides was observed under these conditions. These results suggest that gonococcal pilin does not play a direct role in gonococcal transformation.