Oral bacteria live in an environment rich in calcium, due in part to their participation in decalcification of enamel an in part to salivary calcium. Yet little is known of their response to environmental calcium: whether they actively accumulate calcium whether it is involved in cellular metabolism, or whether, like most bacteria, they actively extrude that ion. Streptococci appear to be unique among bacteria in possessing primary calcium and sodium pumps. The goal of this project is to define the calcium metabolism of Streptococcus mutans.
The specific aims i nclude 1) development of methodology for measurement of calcium fluxes, 2) energetics of calcium circulation in intact cells, 3) energy coupling of calcium transport by everted vesicles and comparison with the characterized system of S. facaelis, and 4) identification and isolation of calcium transport proteins. The long term objectives include 1) biochemical characterization of such transport proteins and 2) elucidation of the role of calcium transport systems in cellular metabolism and cariogenesis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE006071-02
Application #
3219805
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1984-03-01
Project End
1987-02-28
Budget Start
1985-03-01
Budget End
1986-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
003255213
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
Gangola, P; Rosen, B P (1987) Maintenance of intracellular calcium in Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem 262:12570-4
Rosen, B P (1987) Bacterial calcium transport. Biochim Biophys Acta 906:101-10
Rosen, B P (1986) Recent advances in bacterial ion transport. Annu Rev Microbiol 40:263-86
Ambudkar, S V; Lynn, A R; Maloney, P C et al. (1986) Reconstitution of ATP-dependent calcium transport from streptococci. J Biol Chem 261:15596-600
Houng, H S; Lynn, A R; Rosen, B P (1986) ATP-driven calcium transport in membrane vesicles of Streptococcus sanguis. J Bacteriol 168:1040-4