Plasmalogen, a glycerophospholipid crucial for Streptococcus mutans acid tolerance and colonization.

ABSTRACT: Plasmalogen is a specific glycerophospholipid present in both animal and bacterial organisms. It plays a crucial function in eukaryotic cellular processes and is closely related to several human diseases, including neurological disorders and cancers. Nonetheless, the precise biological role of plasmalogen in bacteria is not well understood. In this study, we identified SMU_438c as the enzyme responsible for plasmalogen production in Streptococcus mutans under anaerobic conditions. The heterologous expression of SMU_438c in a plasmalogen-negative strain, Streptococcus sanguinis, resulted in the production of plasmalogen, indicating that this enzyme is sufficient for plasmalogen production. Additionally, the plasmalogen-deficient S. mutans exhibited significantly lower a

SUBMITTER: Mu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11022534 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature