A novel phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus mutans is responsible for transport of carbohydrates with α‐1, 3 linkage. (1st November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ajdic, D.; Chen, Z.
• Is Part Of: Molecular oral microbiology. Volume 28:Number 2(2013:Apr.)
• Page Start: 114
• Page End: 128
• Publication Date: 2012-11-01
• Subjects: Mouth -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Respiratory infections -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Mouth -- Diseases -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; 617.522
• DOI: 10.1111/omi.12009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-1006

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="omi12009-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>The most common type of carbohydrate‐transport system in <italic>Streptococcus mutans</italic> is the phosphoenolpyruvate–sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS). Fourteen PTS exist in <italic>S. mutans</italic> UA159. Several studies have shown that microorganisms growing in biofilms express different genes compared with their planktonic counterparts. In this study, we showed that one PTS of <italic>S. mutans</italic> was expressed in sucrose‐grown biofilms. Furthermore, the same PTS was also responsible for the transport and metabolism of disaccharide nigerose (3‐<italic>O</italic>‐α‐<sc>d</sc>‐glucopyranosyl‐<sc>d</sc>‐glucose). Additionally, the results indicate that the studied PTS might be involved in the transport and metabolism of carbohydrates synthesized by glucosyltransferase B and glucosyltransferase C of <italic>S. mutans</italic>. To our knowledge, this is the first report that shows PTS transport of a disaccharide (and possibly extracellular oligosaccharides) with α‐1, 3 linkage.</p> </abstract>