The availability and source of carbohydrate is the single most important environmental variable that affects the composition and pathogenic potential of supragingival dental plaque. Streptococcus mutans emerges as a significant constituent of cariogenic dental plaque as a direct result of repeated acidification of the oral biofilms through catabolism of exogenous carbohydrates. The persistence and virulence of S. mutans are inextricably intertwined with the genetic and physiologic responses of this organism to the source and availability of carbohydrates. S. mutans has the ability to catabolize a wide variety of sugars over a wide range of concentrations, to store carbohydrates in different forms for catabolism during nutrient limitation, and to adapt to the constant changes in carbohydrate source and availability in the oral cavity. Our studies focus in two general areas: one being a detailed analysis of regulation of the established virulence determinant fructan hydrolase (FruA), which continues to serve as an excellent model of gene regulation in S. mutans, and the other an investigation of two established regulators of carbohydrate utilization and their impact on global control of gene expression and regulation of documented virulence attributes of the organism, including fruA. This competing continuation builds on the foundation we established through studies of fruA, catabolite repression, and the role of CcpA and the sugarphosphotransferase system in regulation of gene expression.
The Specific Aims for this proposal are: 1. Exploration of structure:function relationships in a unique four-component signal transduction system required for activation of fruA expression in response to inducer. 2. Dissecting the underlying mechanisms of CcpA-dependent and CcpA-independent carbohydrate catabolite repression in S. mutans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE012236-16
Application #
8061661
Study Section
Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences Study Section (ODCS)
Program Officer
Lunsford, Dwayne
Project Start
1997-04-01
Project End
2013-04-30
Budget Start
2011-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$337,407
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Bowen, William H; Burne, Robert A; Wu, Hui et al. (2018) Oral Biofilms: Pathogens, Matrix, and Polymicrobial Interactions in Microenvironments. Trends Microbiol 26:229-242
Zeng, Lin; Chen, Lulu; Burne, Robert A (2018) Preferred Hexoses Influence Long-Term Memory in and Induction of Lactose Catabolism by Streptococcus mutans. Appl Environ Microbiol 84:
Zeng, Lin; Chakraborty, Brinta; Farivar, Tanaz et al. (2017) Coordinated Regulation of the EIIMan and fruRKI Operons of Streptococcus mutans by Global and Fructose-Specific Pathways. Appl Environ Microbiol 83:
Moye, Zachary D; Son, Minjun; Rosa-Alberty, Ariana E et al. (2016) Effects of Carbohydrate Source on Genetic Competence in Streptococcus mutans. Appl Environ Microbiol 82:4821-4834
Zeng, Lin; Burne, Robert A (2016) Sucrose- and Fructose-Specific Effects on the Transcriptome of Streptococcus mutans, as Determined by RNA Sequencing. Appl Environ Microbiol 82:146-56
Zeng, Lin; Farivar, Tanaz; Burne, Robert A (2016) Amino Sugars Enhance the Competitiveness of Beneficial Commensals with Streptococcus mutans through Multiple Mechanisms. Appl Environ Microbiol 82:3671-82
Kim, Jeong Nam; Ahn, Sang-Joon; Burne, Robert A (2015) Genetics and Physiology of Acetate Metabolism by the Pta-Ack Pathway of Streptococcus mutans. Appl Environ Microbiol 81:5015-25
Zeng, Lin; Burne, Robert A (2015) NagR Differentially Regulates the Expression of the glmS and nagAB Genes Required for Amino Sugar Metabolism by Streptococcus mutans. J Bacteriol 197:3533-44
Moye, Zachary D; Zeng, Lin; Burne, Robert A (2014) Fueling the caries process: carbohydrate metabolism and gene regulation by Streptococcus mutans. J Oral Microbiol 6:
Moye, Zachary D; Burne, Robert A; Zeng, Lin (2014) Uptake and metabolism of N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine by Streptococcus mutans. Appl Environ Microbiol 80:5053-67

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