Dataset Information

Identification of a point mutation resulting in loss of cell wall anchoring activity of SrtA of Streptococcus mutans NG5.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus mutans NG5 failed to anchor antigen P1 to the cell surface, and such a failure could be attributed to a defective SrtA, which was made defective by a point mutation within the srtA gene. Without a functional SrtA, S. mutans NG5 was not able to perform a number of cell surface-related activities, including saliva-mediated adherence and aggregation.

SUBMITTER: Lee SF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC427452 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Identification of a point mutation resulting in loss of cell wall anchoring activity of SrtA of Streptococcus mutans NG5.

Lee Song F SF McGavin Mary K H MK

Infection and immunity 20040701 7

Streptococcus mutans NG5 failed to anchor antigen P1 to the cell surface, and such a failure could be attributed to a defective SrtA, which was made defective by a point mutation within the srtA gene. Without a functional SrtA, S. mutans NG5 was not able to perform a number of cell surface-related activities, including saliva-mediated adherence and aggregation. ...[more]

PMID: 15213182

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Project description:Streptococcus mutans is a major pathobiont involved in the development of dental caries. Its ability to utilize numerous sugars and to effectively respond to environmental stress promotes S. mutans proliferation in oral biofilms. Because of their quick action and low energetic cost, noncoding small RNAs (sRNAs) represent an ideal mode of gene regulation in stress response networks, yet their roles in oral pathogens have remained largely unexplored. We identified 15 novel sRNAs in S. mutans and show that they respond to four stress-inducing conditions commonly encountered by the pathogen in human mouth: sugar-phosphate stress, hydrogen peroxide exposure, high temperature, and low pH. To better understand the role of sRNAs in S. mutans, we further explored the function of the novel sRNA SmsR4. Our data demonstrate that SmsR4 regulates the enzyme IIA (EIIA) component of the sorbitol phosphotransferase system, which transports and phosphorylates the sugar alcohol sorbitol. The fine-tuning of EIIA availability by SmsR4 likely promotes S. mutans growth while using sorbitol as the main carbon source. Our work lays a foundation for understanding the role of sRNAs in regulating gene expression in stress response networks in S. mutans and highlights the importance of the underexplored phenomenon of posttranscriptional gene regulation in oral bacteria. IMPORTANCE Small RNAs (sRNAs) are important gene regulators in bacteria, but the identities and functions of sRNAs in Streptococcus mutans, the principal bacterium involved in the formation of dental caries, are unknown. In this study, we identified 15 putative sRNAs in S. mutans and show that they respond to four common stress-inducing conditions present in human mouth: sugar-phosphate stress, hydrogen peroxide exposure, high temperature, and low pH. We further show that the novel sRNA SmsR4 likely modulates sorbitol transport into the cell by regulating SMU_313 mRNA, which encodes the EIIA subunit of the sorbitol phosphotransferase system. Gaining a better understanding of sRNA-based gene regulation may provide new opportunities to develop specific inhibitors of S. mutans growth, thereby improving oral health.

Dataset Information

Identification of a point mutation resulting in loss of cell wall anchoring activity of SrtA of Streptococcus mutans NG5.

Publications

Identification of a point mutation resulting in loss of cell wall anchoring activity of SrtA of Streptococcus mutans NG5.

Similar Datasets

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