The overall goal of this research is to study the various virulence components of mutans streptococci at the molecular level. Among the more important factors in the caries process are those components involved with sucrose metabolism; i.e., those enzymes and proteins which bind and utilize sugars for energy production and result in the formation of extracellular polymers found in dental plaque. A further understanding of the involvement of these factors in caries can best be achieved by analyzing the individual components at the molecular level.
The specific aims of this proposal are to: 1. Determine the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of glucosyltransferase (both soluble and insoluble forms), glucan binding proteins, and fructosyltransferase genes obtained from S. mutans and S. sobrinus; 2. Study structure- function relationships of these proteins and identify the roles of local domains and how they are involved in enzyme activity, ligand binding, and overall function; 3. Assess the relatedness, chromosome organization and evolution of these genes and gene products with those from other serotypes of mutans streptococci; 4. Utilize site directed mutagenesis and protein engineering techniques to further understand structure-function relationships of individual proteins and design new proteins which might represent improved candidates for a caries vaccine. The results from this study should provide important information for the understanding of the genetic regulation of these factors as well as a characterization of each component at the molecular level and how they interact with one another. The availability of this information should also allow further strategies to be devised to understand the interaction of various components involved in sucrose metabolism and eventually the control of caries.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE008191-04
Application #
3221994
Study Section
Oral Biology and Medicine Subcommittee 1 (OBM)
Project Start
1987-09-01
Project End
1992-08-31
Budget Start
1990-09-01
Budget End
1991-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Department
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
937727907
City
Oklahoma City
State
OK
Country
United States
Zip Code
73117
Colby, S M; McLaughlin, R E; Ferretti, J J et al. (1999) Effect of inactivation of gtf genes on adherence of Streptococcus downei. Oral Microbiol Immunol 14:27-32
Ajdic, D; Ferretti, J J (1998) Transcriptional regulation of the Streptococcus mutans gal operon by the GalR repressor. J Bacteriol 180:5727-32
Colby, S M; Russell, R R (1997) Sugar metabolism by mutans streptococci. Soc Appl Bacteriol Symp Ser 26:80S-88S
McLaughlin, R E; Ferretti, J J (1996) The multiple-sugar metabolism (msm) gene cluster of Streptococcus mutans is transcribed as a single operon. FEMS Microbiol Lett 140:261-4
Ajdic, D; Sutcliffe, I C; Russell, R R et al. (1996) Organization and nucleotide sequence of the Streptococcus mutans galactose operon. Gene 180:137-44
Sutcliffe, I C; Russell, R R (1995) Lipoproteins of gram-positive bacteria. J Bacteriol 177:1123-8
Colby, S M; Harrington, D J; Russell, R R (1995) Identification and genetic characterisation of melibiose-negative isolates of Streptococcus mutans. Caries Res 29:407-12
Tao, L; Sutcliffe, I C; Russell, R R et al. (1995) Regulation of the multiple sugar metabolism operon in Streptococcus mutans. Dev Biol Stand 85:343-50
Colby, S M; Whiting, G C; Tao, L et al. (1995) Insertional inactivation of the Streptococcus mutans dexA (dextranase) gene results in altered adherence and dextran catabolism. Microbiology 141 ( Pt 11):2929-36
Colby, S M; Whiting, G C; Russell, R R (1995) Inactivation of the dextranase gene in Streptococcus mutans. Dev Biol Stand 85:377-81

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