ADP-RIBOSYLATION BY THE EXTRACELLULAR FIBRILS OF MYXOCOCCUS-XANTHUS

The isolated, extracellular fibrils of the myxobacterium, Myxococcus x anthus, are capable of carrying out ADP-ribosylation. The substrate fo r the ADP-ribosylation is reactive with monoclonal antibody 2105, whic h has been shown to be directed specifically against the integral fibr il proteins. The extracellular fibrils thus contain both the ADP-ribos yl transferase and the substrate for the ribosylation. This process ma y play a role in the contact-mediated cell-cell interactions that are an important part of the social behaviour of M. xanthus.