Effects of Carbohydrate Source on Genetic Competence in Streptococcus mutans

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.01205-16
• Publication Date: 2016-06-04T02:36:40Z
• Authors: Zachary D. Moye; Minjun Son; Ariana E. Rosa-Al...; Lin Zeng; Sang-Joon Ahn; Stephen J. Hagen; Robert A. Burne
• Keywords: Streptococcus mutans; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Bacterial Proteins; Carbohydrates; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Sigma Factor; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Promoter Regions, Genetic

The capacity to internalize and catabolize carbohydrates is essential for dental caries pathogens persist cause disease. expression of many virulence-related attributes by Streptococcus mutans, an organism strongly associated with human caries, influenced the peptide signaling pathways that control genetic competence. Here, we demonstrate a relationship between efficiency competence carbohydrate source. A significant increase in activity promoters comX, comS, comYA after exposure competence-stimulating (CSP) was observed cells growing on fructose, maltose, sucrose, or trehalose as primary source, compared glucose. However, only grown presence sucrose displayed transformation frequency. Notably, even low concentrations these excess glucose could enhance encoding sigma factor needed competence, effects were dependent cognate sugar:phosphotransferase permease each carbohydrate. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter fusions, growth fructose resulted greater proportion population activating comX precursor comX-inducing (XIP), addition CSP, than Thus, source significantly impacts stochastic behaviors regulate subpopulation responses which can induce S. mutansThe development mutans are intimately intertwined pathogenic potential organism, impacting biofilm formation, stress tolerance, known virulence determinants. Induction gene master regulator ComX, occurs cells. show certain common diet ability CSP activate transcription subset stimulates progression competent state. permeases sugar effects. Interestingly, single-cell analysis shows com do so enhancing respond CSP. mathematical model developed explain how modulate bistable behavior system via ComRS pathway ComX stability.