Question

What are pilli and function?

Answer 1

A pilus is a thin, rigid fiber made of protein that protrudes from the cell surface. The primary function of pili are to attach a bacterial cell to specific surfaces or to other cells. Pilli plays important role in the process of conjugation (hence also callled sex pilli.). The cell with the conjugation pilus attaches to another cell, connecting the cytoplasm of each cell and allowing molecules of DNA to pass through the hollow pilus. It also functions as a receptor for donor specific (male specific) phages.