Abstract
The Streptococcus mutans serotype c gtfA gene encodes a 55-kilodalton sucrose-hydrolyzing enzyme. Analysis of S. mutans gtfA mutants revealed that the mutant strains were specifically impaired in the ability to use melibiose as a sole carbon source. S. mutans gtfA mutant strains synthesized less α-galactosidase activity inducible by raffinose than wild-type strains. Melibiose (an inducer in wild-type strains) failed to induce significant levels of α-galactosidase in the mutant strains. We hypothesize that melibiose use by S. mutans requires the interaction of the GtfA enzyme, or another gene product under the control of the gtfA promoter, with other gene product(s) involved in melibiose transport or hydrolysis.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 992-995 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Infection and immunity |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - 1989 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases