Construction of region-specific partial duplication mutants (merodiploid mutants) to identify the regulatory gene for the glucan-binding protein C gene in vivo in Streptococcus mutans.
The gbpC gene encoding the glucan-binding protein C which is involved in dextran (glucan)-dependent aggregation (ddag) of Streptococcus mutans has been identified by random mutagenesis. We analyzed ddag(-) mutants containing the intact gbpC gene and found that these mutants possessed a large and characteristic duplication of a region of the chromosome which was responsible for the phenotype. Based upon characterization of these duplications, we developed a strategy to introduce a duplication into any specific region of the chromosome of these organisms. The 690-bp gene responsible for the ddag(-) phenotype was identified within a 60-kb region by observing ddag (positive or negative) phenotypes of successively constructed specific duplication mutants.
Sato
Y
Y
Oral Health Science Center, Tokyo Dental College, 2-2, Masago 1-chome, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Japan. yusato@tdc.ac.jp
Yamamoto
Y
Y
Kizaki
H
H
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D020440:Gene Duplication; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D005936:Glucans / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins; D016296:Mutagenesis; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D037102:Lectins; C037937:glucan-binding proteins