title: DNA homology of surface protein antigen A gene in mutans streptococci.
abstract: 1. A recombinant plasmid, pYA724, containing an 8.45 kb DNA fragment encoding surface protein antigen A (spaA) from Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 was used to examine the DNA homology of the spaA gene with chromosomal DNA of various mutans streptococci strains. 2. Restriction endonuclease BamHI-digested pYA724 DNA was radio-labeled by nick-translation, and a DNA-DNA hybridization experiment was carried out. pYA724 DNA hybridized with chromosomal DNA of serotypes a, c, d, e, f and g strains, but not with b by dot DNA-hybridization and Southern blot DNA hybridization. 3. Chromosomal DNAs were isolated from several serotype c Streptococcus mutans strains, digested with BamHI, and analyzed by Southern blot DNA hybridization. pYA724 DNA hybridized with different sizes and numbers of BamHI-digested DNA fragments of the chromosomal DNAs. 4. These data indicated that all mutans streptococci strains except serotype b have DNA homologous with the spaA gene, although within the same serotype strain the spaA gene has a diversity of arrangement within the chromosome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abiko
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koitabashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takiguchi
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial