CovR and VicRKX Regulate Transcription of the Collagen Binding Protein Cnm of Streptococcus mutans.

ABSTRACT: Cnm is a surface-associated protein present in a subset of Streptococcus mutans strains that mediates binding to extracellular matrices, intracellular invasion, and virulence. Here, we showed that cnm transcription is controlled by the global regulators CovR and VicRKX. In silico analysis identified multiple putative CovR- and VicR-binding motifs in the regulatory region of cnm as well as in the downstream gene pgfS, which is associated with the posttranslational modification of Cnm. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that CovR and VicR specifically and independently bind to the cnm and pgfS promoter regions. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses of ΔcovR and ΔvicK strains as well as of a strain overexpressing vicRKX revealed that CovR functions as a positive reg

SUBMITTER: Araujo Alves L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6222205 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature