title: Distribution, regulation and role of the agmatine deiminase system in mutans streptococci.
abstract: The agmatine deiminase system (AgDS) was identified in seven strains of mutans streptococci. Genes encoding the AgDS of Streptococcus rattus FA-1 were sequenced and found to share homology with the agu genes of Streptococcus mutans UA159. With the exception of Streptococcus sobrinus, the AgDS of mutans streptococci appear to be sensitive to carbohydrate catabolite repression. Agmatine inhibited bacterial growth, suggesting that the AgDS degrades a deleterious substance into useful compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0424, USA.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Griswold
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Burne
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000376:Agmatine / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000376:Agmatine; D000641:Ammonia; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D006867:Hydrolases; C019626:agmatine deiminase