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Biological function of the dTDP-rhamnose synthesis pathway in Streptococcus mutans.

ABSTRACT: We have cloned a new gene locus that comprises three genes concerned with the biosynthesis of the serotype c-specific polysaccharide antigen in Streptococcus mutans. The genes encode proteins exhibiting significant homology to the rfbA, rfbB, and rfbD gene products that are involved in the anabolism of dTDP-L-rhamnose from D-glucose-1-phosphate. This anabolism pathway pertains to biosynthesis of the O antigen of lipopolysaccharide in gram-negative bacteria. The cell extract of Escherichia coli expressing each of the cloned genes of S. mutans exhibited enzymatic activity corresponding to the homologous counterpart of the rfb gene products. Rhamnose was not detected in the cell wall preparation purified from the mutant in which each of the three cloned genes was insertionally inactivated. Rabbit antiserum against S. mutans serotype c-specific antigen did not react with the autoclaved extracts from these mutants. These results indicate that the gene products identified in the present study are involved in the dTDP-L-rhamnose synthesis pathway and that the pathway relates to the biosynthesis of the serotype-specific polysaccharide antigen of S. mutans. Southern hybridization analysis revealed that genes homologous to the cloned genes involved in the dTDP-L-rhamnose synthesis pathway were widely distributed in a variety of streptococci. This is the first report of the biological function of the dTDP-rhamnose pathway in streptococci.

SUBMITTER: Tsukioka Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC178808 | biostudies-other | 1997 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Biological function of the dTDP-rhamnose synthesis pathway in Streptococcus mutans.

Tsukioka Y Y Yamashita Y Y Oho T T Nakano Y Y Koga T T

Journal of bacteriology 19970201 4

We have cloned a new gene locus that comprises three genes concerned with the biosynthesis of the serotype c-specific polysaccharide antigen in Streptococcus mutans. The genes encode proteins exhibiting significant homology to the rfbA, rfbB, and rfbD gene products that are involved in the anabolism of dTDP-L-rhamnose from D-glucose-1-phosphate. This anabolism pathway pertains to biosynthesis of the O antigen of lipopolysaccharide in gram-negative bacteria. The cell extract of Escherichia coli e ...[more]

PMID: 9023194

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Project description:The rhamnose-glucose cell wall polysaccharide (RGP) of Streptococcus mutans plays a significant role in cell division, virulence, and stress protection. Prior studies examined function of the RGP using strains carrying deletions in the machinery involved in RGP assembly. In this study, we explored loss of the substrate for RGP, l-rhamnose, via deletion of rmlD (encoding the protein responsible for the terminal step in l-rhamnose biosynthesis). We demonstrate that loss of rhamnose biosynthesis causes a phenotype similar to strains with disrupted RGP assembly (ΔrgpG and ΔrgpF strains). Deletion of rmlD not only caused a severe growth defect under nonstress growth conditions but also elevated susceptibility of the strain to acid and oxidative stress, common conditions found in the oral cavity. A genetic complement of the ΔrmlD strain completely restored wild-type levels of growth, whereas addition of exogenous rhamnose did not. The loss of rhamnose production also significantly disrupted biofilm formation, an important aspect of S. mutans growth in the oral cavity. Further, we demonstrate that loss of either rmlD or rgpG results in ablation of rhamnose content in the S. mutans cell wall. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of rhamnose production in both the fitness and the ability of S. mutans to overcome environmental stresses.IMPORTANCEStreptococcus mutans is a pathogenic bacterium that is the primary etiologic agent of dental caries, a disease that affects billions yearly. Rhamnose biosynthesis is conserved not only in streptococcal species but in other Gram-positive, as well as Gram-negative, organisms. This study highlights the importance of rhamnose biosynthesis in RGP production for protection of the organism against acid and oxidative stresses, the two major stressors that the organism encounters in the oral cavity. Loss of RGP also severely impacts biofilm formation, the first step in the onset of dental caries. The high conservation of the rhamnose synthesis enzymes, as well as their importance in S. mutans and other organisms, makes them favorable antibiotic targets for the treatment of disease.

Dataset Information

Biological function of the dTDP-rhamnose synthesis pathway in Streptococcus mutans.

Publications

Biological function of the dTDP-rhamnose synthesis pathway in Streptococcus mutans.

Similar Datasets

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