Abstract
Sexual aggregation involved in conjugative transfer of the Enterococcus faecalis plasmids pPD1 and pAD1 is enhanced by sex pheromones cPD2 and cAD1, respectively, which are excreted from recipient cells. PD78 (78kDa) were detectable on the surface of donors harboring pPD1 and pAD1, respectively, at the time of cell aggregation. The proteins PD78 and AD74 were purified and used to raise anti-PD78 and anti-AD74 antibodies. The antibodies blocked the sexual aggregation and the plasmid transfer, Anti-AD74 antibody reacted to both 153kDa proteins extracted from cPD1 and cAD1-induced donor cells after lysozyme digestion of cell wall. Pheromone-induced synthesis of PD78 and AD74, when both plasmids were present in the same cell, was independent.
