title: Genetic transformation in Streptococcus mutans requires a peptide secretion-like apparatus.
abstract: Competence for genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus gordonii involves the ComAB secretion apparatus, which is thought to export the competence-stimulating peptide. Homologous secretory systems are also used for the export of certain bacteriocins and bacteriocin-like peptides. In this study, a similar secretory apparatus was found in the Streptococcus mutans genome, and its role in transformation was investigated. Gene inactivation resulted in a mutant deficient in transformability. We suggest that secretion of a peptide, possibly the competence-stimulating peptide itself, is involved in competence induction also in S. mutans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1052 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Scheie
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000378:metabolism; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000235:genetics*; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001430:Bacteriocins; C061262:ComA protein, Bacteria; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C061261:comB protein, Haemophilus influenzae