Genetic variation in comC, the gene encoding competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) in Streptococcus Mutans
Authors
Allan, ElaineHussain, Haitham A.
Crawford, Kevin R.
Miah, Shahjahan
Ascott, Zoë K.
Khwaja, Mahrukh H.
Hosie, Arthur H.F.
Issue Date
2007Subjects
Streptococcus mutanscompetence stimulating peptide
genetic competence
natural transformation
Genetic diversity
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The genetic variability in comC, the gene encoding the quorum-sensing molecule, competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) in Streptococcus mutans is reported. Seven comC alleles encoding three distinct mature CSPs were identified among 36 geographically diverse strains, although, compared with Streptococcus pneumoniae, the amount of predicted amino acid sequence variation is low. In agreement with other studies, significant variation was found in the natural competence for DNA uptake in these strains. However, there was no correlation between the CSP genotype and the ability to transform these strains. Representative strains encoding each of the CSP variants became competent in response to synthetic CSPs of each type. Therefore, in contrast to S. pneumoniae, comC alleles in S. mutans are functionally equivalent and there is no evidence of pherotype specificity.Citation
Allan, E., Hussain, H.A., Crawford, K.R., Miah, S., Ascott, Z.K., Khwaja, M.H. and Hosie, A.H.F. (2007) 'Genetic variation in comC, the gene encoding competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) in Streptococcus Mutans', FEMS Microbiology Letters, 268(1),pp.47-51Publisher
Blackwell PublishingJournal
FEMS Microbiology LettersAdditional Links
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17229063Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
0378-10971574-6968
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00593.x