<i>smu_1558c</i>-mediated regulation of growth and biofilm formation in <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus mutans is a key etiological agent in dental caries, owing to its strong ability to form biofilms through carbohydrate fermentation. Protein acetylation, facilitated by GNAT family acetyltransferases, plays a critical regulatory role in bacterial physiology, but its impact on S. mutans remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the role of the GNAT family acetyltransferase encoded by smu_1558c in regulating the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans. The deletion of smu_1558c resulted in impaired growth, reduced biofilm formation, and diminished synthesis of water-insoluble extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). Proteomic analysis revealed 166 differentially expressed proteins in the deletion mutant, with significant enrichme

SUBMITTER: Zhou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11782273 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature