title: Genetic variation in comC, the gene encoding competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) in Streptococcus mutans.
abstract: The genetic variability in comC, the gene encoding the quorum-sensing molecule, competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) in Streptococcus mutans is reported. Seven comC alleles encoding three distinct mature CSPs were identified among 36 geographically diverse strains, although, compared with Streptococcus pneumoniae, the amount of predicted amino acid sequence variation is low. In agreement with other studies, significant variation was found in the natural competence for DNA uptake in these strains. However, there was no correlation between the CSP genotype and the ability to transform these strains. Representative strains encoding each of the CSP variants became competent in response to synthetic CSPs of each type. Therefore, in contrast to S. pneumoniae, comC alleles in S. mutans are functionally equivalent and there is no evidence of pherotype specificity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK. e.allan@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Haitham A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Shahjahan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miah
authors.forename: Zoë K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Ascott
authors.forename: Mahrukh H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Khwaja
authors.forename: Arthur H F
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hosie
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010455:Peptides; C423628:competence factor, Streptococcus