title: Acid labile ComX pheromone from Bacillus mojavensis RO-H-1.
abstract: Bacillus mojavensis strain RO-H-1 produces a posttranslationally modified hexapeptide, the ComX(RO-H-1) pheromone, that stimulates natural genetic competence controlled by quorum sensing. LC/ESI-MS analysis of partially purification of the ComX(RO-H-1) pheromone suggested a precise modification in its tryptophan residue. The corresponding ComX(RO-H-1) pheromone prepared by solid-phase synthesis was identical to the natural pheromone, and showed significant biological activity. These results indicated that the posttranslational modification of the ComX(RO-H-1) pheromone was geranylation on the tryptophan residue, resulting in the formation of a tricyclic structure. The ComX(RO-H-1) pheromone was immediately dehydrated by acid because of its extreme acid lability.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan. okada-org@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Fumitada
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dubnau
authors.forename: Youji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakagami
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C087040:ComX protein, Bacillus subtilis