Enterococcus faecalis pheromone binding protein, PrgZ, recruits a chromosomal oligopeptide permease system to import sex pheromone cCF10 for induction of conjugation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Jan 9;93(1):260-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.1.260.

Abstract

Conjugative transfer of the plasmid pCF10 by Enterococcus faecalis donor cells occurs in response to a peptide sex pheromone, cCF10, secreted by recipients. The plasmid-encoded cCF10 binding protein, PrgZ, is similar in sequence to binding proteins (OppAs) encoded by oligopeptide permease (opp) operons. Mutation of prgZ decreased the sensitivity of donor cells to pheromone, whereas inactivation of the chromosomal E. faecalis opp operon abolished response at physiological concentrations of pheromone. Affinity chromatography experiments demonstrated the interaction of the pheromone with several putative intracellular regulatory molecules, including an RNA molecule required for positive regulation of conjugation functions. These data suggest that processing of the pheromone signal involves recruitment of a chromosomal Opp system by PrgZ and that signaling occurs by direct interaction of internalized pheromone with intracellular effectors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Conjugation, Genetic*
  • DNA Primers / chemistry
  • Enterococcus faecalis / physiology*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism*
  • Pheromones / metabolism*
  • Plasmids
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Sorting Signals / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Ribonucleoproteins / physiology
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Oligopeptides
  • Pheromones
  • PrgZ protein, Enterococcus faecalis
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • iCF10 peptide precursor, Plasmid pCF10
  • peptide pheromone cCF10
  • oligopeptide permease, Bacteria