Spontaneous switching of the sucrose-promoted colony phenotype in Streptococcus sanguis.
Streptococcus sanguis on media containing 3% sucrose gives rise to characteristic hard cohesive colonies (designated Spp+). Populations of Spp+ bacteria (strain Challis) on sucrose media switch to a soft noncohesive phenotype (designated Spp-) at a frequency of 10(-4) to 10(-3). Spp- bacteria switch back to Spp+ bacteria at a similar frequency. Successive rounds of Spp variation were observed. The Spp phenotypic switch was associated with changes in extracellular glucosyltransferase activity.
Tardif
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0402.
Sulavik
M C
MC
Jones
G W
GW
Clewell
D B
DB
D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins
D005964:Glucosyltransferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D013395:Sucrose; C021451:inulosucrase; D001426:Bacterial Proteins