The serotype-specific glucose side chain of rhamnose-glucose polysaccharides is essential for adsorption of bacteriophage M102 to Streptococcus mutans.
Bacteriophage M102 is a virulent siphophage that propagates in some serotype c Streptococcus mutans strains, but not in S. mutans of serotype e, f or k. The serotype of S. mutans is determined by the glucose side chain of rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide (RGP). Because the first step in the bacteriophage infection process is adsorption of the phage, it was investigated whether the serotype specificity of phage M102 was determined by adsorption. M102 adsorbed to all tested serotype c strains, but not to strains of different serotypes. Streptococcus mutans serotype c mutants defective in the synthesis of the glucose side chain of RGP failed to adsorb phage M102. These results suggest that the glucose side chain of RGP acts as a receptor for phage M102.
Shibata
Yukie
Y
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Yamashita
Yoshihisa
Y
van der Ploeg
Jan R
JR
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D023061:Gene Order; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D012210:Rhamnose / Q000032:analysis; D017108:Streptococcus Phages / Q000502:physiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000821:virology*; D053585:Virus Attachment
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D005947:Glucose; D012210:Rhamnose