title: Pheromone-inducible conjugation in Enterococcus faecalis: a model for the evolution of biological complexity?
abstract: Pheromone-inducible transfer of the plasmid pCF10 in Enterococcus faecalis is regulated using a complicated network of proteins and RNAs. The plasmid itself has been assembled from parts garnered from a variety of sources, and many aspects of the system resemble a biological kluge. Recently several new functions of various pCF10 gene products that participate in regulation of plasmid transfer have been identified. The results indicate that selective pressures controlling the evolution of the plasmid have produced a highly complex regulatory network with multiple biological functions that may serve well as a model for the evolution of biological complexity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1460 Mayo Bldg., MMC196, 420 Delaware St., SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Briana K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kozlowicz
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dworkin
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dunny
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D008954:Models, Biological; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010957:Plasmids; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010675:Pheromones; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; C090554:iCF10 peptide precursor, Plasmid pCF10; C057280:peptide pheromone cCF10