Additional Glucose-PTS Induction in Streptococcus mutans Mutant Deficient in Mannose- and Cellobiose-PTS.

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans utilizes maltooligosaccharides, including maltose derived from human dietary starch. We recently reported that the glucose-phosphotransferase system (Glc-PTS) was also involved in the metabolism of glucose derived from intracellular maltooligosaccharides in S. mutans. The activity of the Glc-PTS was mediated by the mannose-(manLMN) and cellobiose-PTSs (celABRCD) in this organism. The purpose of this study was to identify which kind of glucose transporter was involved in this process. A celD, manLM, and glk triple mutant, cm6vU1, was constructed and its growth in maltose or glucose broth measured. When cm6vU1 cells were inoculated into a fresh glucose broth following prolonged incubation with glucose, their growth rate was greater than that in the initial inoculum. This suggested that an additional Glc-PTS was induced in these cells. To investigate this possibility, permeabilized S. mutans cells were constructed and Glc-PTS activity examined by photometrical assay method. Activity in the cells was higher in the secondary inocula than in the initial inocula. These results suggest that S. mutans possesses an additional as yet uncharacterized PTS transporter for glucose in addition to the mannose- and cellobiose-PTSs.