Glucan-binding proteins are essential for shaping Streptococcus mutans biofilm architecture

David J Lynch; Tracey L Fountain; Joseph E Mazurkiewicz; Jeffrey A Banas

doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00576.x

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Glucan-binding proteins are essential for shaping Streptococcus mutans biofilm architecture

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Glucan-binding proteins are essential for shaping Streptococcus mutans biofilm architecture

David J Lynch, Tracey L Fountain, Joseph E Mazurkiewicz and Jeffrey A Banas

FEMS microbiology letters, Vol.268(2), pp.158-165

03/01/2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00576.x

PMCID: PMC1804096

PMID: 17214736

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Abstract

Abstract Glucan plays a central role in sucrose-dependent biofilm formation by the dental pathogen Streptococcus mutans. This organism synthesizes several proteins capable of binding glucan. These are divided into the glucosyltransferases that catalyze the synthesis of glucan and the nonglucosyltransferase glucan-binding proteins (Gbps). The biological significance of the Gbps has not been thoroughly defined, but studies suggest that these proteins influence virulence and play a role in maintaining biofilm architecture by linking bacteria and extracellular molecules of glucan. We engineered a panel of Gbp mutants, targeting GbpA, GbpC, and GbpD, in which each gene encoding a Gbp was deleted individually and in combination. These strains were then analyzed by confocal microscopy and the biofilm properties were quantified by the biofilm quantification software comstat. All biofilms produced by mutant strains lost significant depth, but the basis for the reduction in height depended on which particular Gbp was missing. The loss of the cell-bound GbpC appeared dominant as might be expected based on losing the principal receptor for glucan. The loss of an extracellular Gbp, either GbpA or GbpD, also profoundly changed the biofilm architecture, each in a unique manner.

glucan-binding protein

biofilm

Details

Title: Subtitle: Glucan-binding proteins are essential for shaping Streptococcus mutans biofilm architecture
Creators: David J Lynch - Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
Tracey L Fountain - Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
Joseph E Mazurkiewicz - Center for Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
Jeffrey A Banas - Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: FEMS microbiology letters, Vol.268(2), pp.158-165
DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00576.x
PMID: 17214736
PMCID: PMC1804096
NLM abbreviation: FEMS Microbiol Lett
ISSN: 0378-1097
eISSN: 1574-6968
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Oxford, UK
Language: English
Date published: 03/01/2007
Academic Unit: Pediatric Dentistry; Dental Research
Record Identifier: 9984066079802771

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