Calcium Rescues Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 ΔmntE Manganese-Sensitive Growth Phenotype.

ABSTRACT: Calcium (Ca²⁺) functions as a universal signal messenger in eukaryotes but in bacteria, the physiological roles for Ca²⁺ are limited. Here, we examine the role of Ca²⁺ in Streptococcus pneumoniae during manganese (Mn²⁺) intoxication. S. pneumoniae mntE mutants, lacking the Mn²⁺ efflux transporter, exhibit impaired growth due to accumulation of Mn²⁺ when exposed to elevated exogenous Mn²⁺. This Mn²⁺-sensitive growth defect is restored to wild-type growth level by exogenous Ca²⁺, in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. Despite growth restoration of the mntE mutant to wild-type levels, cellular Mn²⁺ remains elevated in this strain. Bacterial capsule production is a

SUBMITTER: Opoku R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11434433 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature