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Genetic basis of coaggregation receptor polysaccharide biosynthesis in S treptococcus sanguinis and related species
Author(s) -
Yang J.,
Yoshida Y.,
Cisar J.O.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular oral microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 2041-1014
pISSN - 2041-1006
DOI - 10.1111/omi.12042
Subject(s) - streptococcus gordonii , streptococcus sanguinis , streptococcus oralis , operon , biology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , actinomyces , biofilm , bacteria , escherichia coli
Summary Interbacterial adhesion between streptococci and actinomyces promotes early dental plaque biofilm development. Recognition of coaggregation receptor polysaccharides ( RPS ) on strains of S treptococcus sanguinis , S treptococcus gordonii and S treptococcus oralis by A ctinomyces spp. type 2 fimbriae is the principal mechanism of these interactions. Previous studies of genetic loci for synthesis of RPS ( rps ) and RPS precursors ( rml , galE1 and galE2 ) in S . gordonii 38 and S . oralis 34 revealed differences between these strains. To determine whether these differences are strain‐specific or species‐specific, we identified and compared loci for polysaccharide biosynthesis in additional strains of these species and in several strains of the previously unstudied species, S . sanguinis . Genes for synthesis of RPS precursors distinguished the rps loci of different streptococci. Hence, rml genes for synthesis of TDP ‐L‐Rha were in rps loci of S . oralis strains but at other loci in S . gordonii and S . sanguinis . Genes for two distinct galactose epimerases were also distributed differently. Hence, galE1 for epimerization of UDP ‐Glc and UDP ‐Gal was in galactose operons of S. gordonii and S. sanguinis strains but surprisingly, this gene was not present in S . oralis . Moreover, galE2 for epimerization of both UDP ‐Glc and UDP ‐Gal and UDP ‐Glc NA c and UDP ‐Gal NA c was at a different locus in each species, including rps operons of S . sanguinis . The findings provide insight into cell surface properties that distinguish different RPS ‐producing streptococci and open an approach for identifying these bacteria based on the arrangement of genes for synthesis of polysaccharide precursors.