Induced cell aggregation and mating in Streptococcus faecalis: evidence for a bacterial sex pheromone.

作者：Gary M. Dunny, B L Brown, Don B. Clewell · 发表于：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 年份：1978 · DOI：10.1073/pnas.75.7.3479 · 被引用次数：565 · 研究领域：Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology、Probiotics and Fermented Foods、RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

Recipient strains of Streptococcus faecalis produce a trypsin sensitive, heat resistant, nuclease resistant factor, designated clumping-inducing agent (CIA) which causes strains carrying certain conjugative plasmids to aggregate. RNA and protein synthesis but not DNA synthesis are required for aggregation to occur. Recipient filtrates that contain CIA activity also induce donors to mate at high frequencies. Introduction of a transferable plasmid into strains producing CIA dramatically reduces the amount of CIA activity produced by the strain but allows the strain to respond to exogenously added CIA. Our data suggest that CIA represents a bacterial sex hormone (pheromone).