Identification of a signalling molecule involved in bacterial intergeneric communication.
The development of complex multispecies communities such as biofilms is controlled by interbacterial communication systems. We have previously reported an intergeneric communication between two oral bacteria, Streptococcus cristatus and Porphyromonas gingivalis, that results in inhibition of fimA expression. Here, we demonstrate that a surface protein, arginine deiminase (ArcA), of S. cristatus serves as a signal that initiates intergeneric communication. An ArcA-deficient mutant of S. cristatus is unable to communicate with P. gingivalis. Furthermore, arginase activity is not essential for the communication, and ArcA retains the ability to repress expression of fimA in the presence of arginine deiminase inhibitors. These results present a novel mechanism by which intergeneric communication in dental biofilms is accomplished.
Xie
Hua
H
School of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.
Lin
Xinghua
X
School of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.
Wang
Bing-Yan
BY
Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
Wu
Jie
J
School of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.
Lamont
Richard J
RJ
Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0424, USA.
D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017353:Gene Deletion; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000502:physiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C063055:fimbrillin; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D006867:Hydrolases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C019723:arginine deiminase