title: Cryptic Streptococcus mutans 5.6-kb plasmids encode a toxin-antitoxin system for plasmid stabilization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In all Streptococcus mutans strains, 5-13% carry a 5.6-kb plasmid. Despite its frequency, little is known about its mediated functions with most of the information coming from a single study focussing on plasmid pUA140.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Here, we describe the sequence and genetic organization of two S. mutans 5.6-kb plasmids, pDC09 and pNC101.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on PicoGreen dsDNA quantification and Real-Time quantitative PCR (RTQ-PCR), the plasmid copy number was found to range between 10 and 74, depending on the strain tested. In contrast to literature, we identified six instead of five open reading frames (ORFs). While the putative gene products of ORF1 (as a Rep-protein) and ORF2 (as a Mob-protein) could be confirmed as being identical to those from pUA140, the functions of ORF3 (unknown) and ORF 4 (possibly AtpE homologue) could not be further revealed. However, the product of ORF5 showed a fairly high identity (38-50%) and structural similarity (58-74%) to RelE of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus equi, and Streptococcus downei. In addition, we identified a functionally corresponding ORF6 encoding a protein with 61-68% identity (81-86% similarity) to the S. equi and S. downei antitoxin of the RelB family. RelE and RelB together form a plasmid-encoded toxin-antitoxin (TA) system, RelBE(plas). Despite its rather limited sequence similarity with chromosomal TA systems in S. mutans (RelBE(chro), MazEF, HicBA), we found similar tertiary structures applying I-Tasser protein prediction analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type II-toxins, as the plasmid-encoded RelE, are RNA endonucleases. Depending on their mRNA cleavage activity, they might 1) kill every plasmid-free progeny, thereby stabilizing plasmid transfer at the expense of the host and/or 2) help S. mutans enter a dormant state and survive unfavourable environmental conditions. Whilst a function in plasmid stabilization has been confirmed, a function in persistence under nutritional stress, tested here by inducing amino acid starvation, could not be demonstrated so far.
authors: Division of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry & Periodontology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Rheinberg
authors: Izabela Jadwiga
authors: IJ
authors: Swierzy
authors: Tuan Dung
authors: TD
authors: Nguyen
authors: Hans-Peter
authors: HP
authors: Horz
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Conrads
keywords: HicBA; MazEF; RelBE; Streptococcus mutans; plasmid addiction system; regulator of translation; toxin–antitoxin cassette