Sex pheromones and plasmid transfer in Enterococcus faecalis.
Plasmid-free Enterococcus faecalis excrete peptides (sex pheromones) which specifically induce a mating response in strains harboring certain conjugative plasmids. The response is characterized by the synthesis of a "fuzzy" surface material, visible by electron microscopy, which is believed to facilitate the aggregation of donors and recipients. Transconjugants which receive a specific plasmid shut down the production of endogenous pheromone; however, they continue to produce pheromones specific for donors harboring different classes of plasmids. In this review, we summarize what is known about the biochemistry and genetics of this phenomenon. Some emphasis is given to the hemolysin plasmid pAD1 and the regulation of its conjugal transfer.
Clewell
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Department of Biologic/Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109.
Weaver
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000235:genetics*; D006459:Hemolysin Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010675:Pheromones / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010675:Pheromones; D012724:Sex Attractants