Streptococcus mutans glucan-binding protein-A affects Streptococcus gordonii biofilm architecture

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2007 Feb;267(1):80-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00557.x. Epub 2006 Dec 8.

Abstract

The glucan-binding protein-A (GbpA) of Streptococcus mutans has been shown to contribute to the architecture of glucan-dependent biofilms formed by this species and influence virulence in a rat model. As S. mutans synthesizes multiple glucosyltransferases and nonglucosyltransferase glucan-binding proteins (GBPs), it is possible that there is functional redundancy that overshadows the full extent of GbpA contributions to S. mutans biology. Glucan-associated properties such as adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation were examined independently of other S. mutans GBPs by cloning the gbpA gene into a heterologous host, Streptococcus gordonii, and derivatives with altered or diminished glucosyltransferase activity. The presence of GbpA did not alter dextran-dependent aggregation nor the initial sucrose-dependent adhesion of S. gordonii. However, expression of GbpA altered the biofilm formed by wild-type S. gordonii as well as the biofilm formed by strain CH107 that produced primarily alpha-1,6-linked glucan. Expression of gbpA did not alter the biofilm formed by strain DS512, which produced significantly lower quantities of parental glucan. These data are consistent with a role for GbpA in facilitating the development of biofilms that harbor taller microcolonies via binding to alpha-1,6-linkages within glucan. The magnitude of the GbpA effect appears to be dependent on the quantity and linkage of available glucan.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Adhesion
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Carbohydrate Conformation
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Glucans / metabolism*
  • Lectins / genetics
  • Lectins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Streptococcus / genetics
  • Streptococcus / physiology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Glucans
  • Lectins
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • SYTO 9
  • glucan-binding proteins