Characterization of LrgAB as a stationary phase-specific pyruvate uptake system in Streptococcus mutans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Our recent '-omics' comparisons of Streptococcus mutans wild-type and lrgAB-mutant revealed that this organism undergoes dynamic cellular changes in the face of multiple exogenous stresses, consequently affecting its comprehensive virulence traits. In this current study, we further demonstrate that LrgAB functions as a S. mutans pyruvate uptake system.

Results

S. mutans excretes pyruvate during growth as an overflow metabolite, and appears to uptake this excreted pyruvate via LrgAB once the primary carbon source is exhausted. This utilization of excreted pyruvate was tightly regulated by glucose levels and stationary growth phase lrgAB induction. The degree of lrgAB induction was reduced by high extracellular levels of pyruvate, suggesting that lrgAB induction is

SUBMITTER: Ahn SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6790026 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature