biostudies-literatureEllepola KHHS | NIH | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)e0030824https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11656736biostudies-literatureUnknown9(12)Our recent studies have shown that deficiency of MecA in Streptococcus mutans significantly affects cell division, growth, and biofilm formation. In this study, an in vitro mixed-species model, proteomics, and affinity pull-down assays were used to further characterize the MecA-mediated regulation in S. mutans. The results showed that compared with the wild type, UA159, the mecA mutant significantly reduced its production of glucans and weakened its ability to facilitate mixed-species biofilm formation. Relative to the wild type, the mecA mutant also displayed unique characteristics, including colony morphology, growth rate, and biofilm formation that did not fully resemble any of the clpP, clpX, clpE, clpCE, and clpC individual or combinatimSphereMecA in Streptococcus mutans is a multi-functional protein.PMC11656736DE019452Lemos JAEllepola KKajfasz JKZhang HShields RCWen ZTWu HfalseMecA in Streptococcus mutans is a multi-functional protein.Our recent studies have shown that deficiency of MecA in Streptococcus mutans significantly affects cell division, growth, and biofilm formation. In this study, an in vitro mixed-species model, proteomics, and affinity pull-down assays were used to further characterize the MecA-mediated regulation in S. mutans. The results showed that compared with the wild type, UA159, the mecA mutant significantly reduced its production of glucans and weakened its ability to facilitate mixed-species biofilm formation. Relative to the wild type, the mecA mutant also displayed unique characteristics, including colony morphology, growth rate, and biofilm formation that did not fully resemble any of the clpP, clpX, clpE, clpCE, and clpC individual or combinati2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Dec2025-04-04T01:46:07.912Z2025-04-04T01:46:07.912ZS-EPMC116567363953067410.1128/msphere.00308-24