Mutational analysis of the adcCBA genes in Streptococcus gordonii biofilm formation

  1. K. Mitrakul,
  2. C. Y. Loo,
  3. C. Gyurko,
  4. C. V. Hughes,
  5. N. Ganeshkumar

Article first published online: 21 FEB 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-302X.2004.00205.x

Issue

Oral Microbiology and Immunology

Oral Microbiology and Immunology

Volume 20, Issue 2, pages 122–127, April 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mitrakul, K., Loo, C. Y., Gyurko, C., Hughes, C. V. and Ganeshkumar, N. (2005), Mutational analysis of the adcCBA genes in Streptococcus gordonii biofilm formation. Oral Microbiology and Immunology, 20: 122–127. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-302X.2004.00205.x

Author Information

  1. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

*N. Ganeshkumar, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, 801 Albany Street, Room 215, Boston, MA 02118, USA Tel.: + 1 617 638 4773; fax: + 1 617 638 5033; e-mail: nganesh@bu.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 FEB 2005
  2. Article first published online: 21 FEB 2005
  3. Accepted for publication November 4, 2004

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Keywords:

  • adc operon;
  • biofilm;
  • dental plaque;
  • Streptococcus gordonii;
  • streptococci;
  • Tn917

Streptococcus gordonii, a primary colonizer, is part of the pioneer biofilm consortium that initiates dental plaque development on tooth surfaces. An insertion of Tn917-lac transposon into the adcR gene produced a biofilm-defective phenotype. S. gordonii adcR is a regulatory gene and is part of an operon (adc) that includes three other genes, adcCBA. AdcC contains a putative consensus-binding site for adenosine triphosphate, AdcB is a putative hydrophobic membrane protein, and AdcA is a putative lipoprotein permease. Mutants were constructed by insertional inactivation in each of the three adcCBA genes and their effects on biofilm formation examined. The adcC::specR and adcB::specR mutations displayed a biofilm-defective phenotype, whereas the adcA::specR mutant was biofilm-positive in a static polystyrene microtiter plate biofilm assay. All three mutants formed poor biofilms in a flow-cell system and were competence-defective, suggesting the adc operon plays an important role in S. gordonii biofilm formation and competence.

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