Functional divergence of MdpS and MdpS2 reveals mucin-targeting strategies in <i>Streptococcus oralis</i>.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mucin degradation is essential for understanding oral microbial adaptation, yet the enzymes involved remain incompletely understood. Herein, we have characterised two mucin-degrading proteases, MdpS and MdpS2, from the oral commensal Streptococcus oralis.

Materials and methods

MdpS2 was characterised using physicochemical assays and substrate profiling and was compared to MdpS. Further Mdp characterisation included structural modelling, and functional assays analysing the gene expression during biofilm growth on salivary MUC5B, enzyme-induced biofilm dispersal, and mucus degradation analysed through nanoLC-MS/MS, sedimentation profiling, and microrheology.

Results

MdpS2 shared conformational homology with MdpS despite low sequence identity and showed

SUBMITTER: Leo F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12557822 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature