ENTEROCOCCUS-FAECALIS PHEROMONE BINDING-PROTEIN, PRGZ, RECRUITS A CHROMOSOMAL OLIGOPEPTIDE PERMEASE SYSTEM TO IMPORT SEX-PHEROMONE CCF10 FOR INDUCTION OF CONJUGATION

Conjugative transfer of the plasmid pCF10 by Enterococcus faecalis don or cells occurs in response to a peptide sex pheromone, cCF10, secrete d by recipients, The plasmid-encoded cCF10 binding protein, PrgZ, is s imilar in sequence to binding proteins (OppAs) encoded bg 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 in teraction of the pheromone with several putative intracellular regulat ory molecules, including an RNA molecule required for positive regulat ion of conjugation functions, These data suggest that processing of th e pheromone signal involves recruitment of a chromosomal Opp system by PrgZ and that signaling occurs by direct interaction of internalized pheromone with intracellular effecters.