The VicRK System of Streptococcus mutans Responds to Oxidative Stress

In Streptococcus mutans, virulence and cariogenicity may be modulated via the two-component regulatory system VicRK. Environmental signals, sensed by VicK, inducing this modulation are still unclear, however, and were investigated in the present study. We found that VicRK displays homology with prot...

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Published in:Journal of dental research Vol. 86; no. 7; pp. 606 - 610
Main Authors: Deng, D.M., Liu, M.J., ten Cate, J.M., Crielaard, W.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States SAGE Publications 01.07.2007
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects:
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Proteins - physiology
Dental Caries - microbiology
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - physiology
green fluorescence protein
Green Fluorescent Proteins - biosynthesis
Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology
Oxidants - pharmacology
oxidative stress
Oxidative Stress - physiology
Promoter Regions, Genetic - physiology
Regulon - physiology
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Signal Transduction - physiology
signaling
Streptococcus mutans
Streptococcus mutans - drug effects
Streptococcus mutans - genetics
Streptococcus mutans - growth & development
Streptococcus mutans - physiology
two-component system
Virulence Factors
signaling
green fluorescence protein
oxidative stress
two-component system
Streptococcus mutans
ISSN:0022-0345, 1544-0591
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:In Streptococcus mutans, virulence and cariogenicity may be modulated via the two-component regulatory system VicRK. Environmental signals, sensed by VicK, inducing this modulation are still unclear, however, and were investigated in the present study. We found that VicRK displays homology with protein-domains that, in other bacteria, are involved in redox-sensing. After constructing a VicRK-promoter GFP-reporter strain, we showed increased fluorescence intensity under oxidative stress. Potential interference of alternative signals and experimental conditions on GFP expression was excluded by the use of negative and positive control strains. Finally, we constructed a clean vicK knockout mutant, which proved to be more sensitive to H2O2 than the wild-type. In conclusion, this study showed that the VicRK system responds to and protects against oxidative stress. As a result, a link between oxidative/redox stress and the cariogenic nature of S. mutans can be hypothesized.
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ISSN:0022-0345
1544-0591
DOI:10.1177/154405910708600705