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Journal of Bacteriology, July 2004, p. 4152-4158, Vol. 186, No. 13
0021-9193/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JB.186.13.4152-4158.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The fabM Gene Product of Streptococcus mutans Is Responsible for the Synthesis of Monounsaturated Fatty Acids and Is Necessary for Survival at Low pH

Elizabeth M. Fozo1 and Robert G. Quivey Jr.1,2*

Center for Oral Biology, Aab Institute for Biomedical Sciences,2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 146421

Received 8 January 2004/ Accepted 24 March 2004

Previously, it has been demonstrated that the membrane fatty acid composition of Streptococcus mutans is affected by growth pH (E. M. Fozo and R. G. Quivey, Jr., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:929-936, 2004; R. G. Quivey, Jr., R. Faustoferri, K. Monahan, and R. Marquis, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 189:89-92, 2000). Specifically, the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids increases when the organism is grown in acidic environments; if the shift to increased monounsaturated fatty acids is blocked by the addition of a fatty acid biosynthesis inhibitor, the organism is rendered more acid sensitive (E. M. Fozo and R. G. Quivey, Jr., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:929-936, 2004). Recently, work with Streptococcus pneumoniae has identified a novel enzyme, FabM, responsible for the production of monounsaturated fatty acids (H. Marrakchi, K. H. Choi, and C. O. Rock, J. Biol. Chem. 277:44809-44816, 2002). Using the published S. pneumoniae sequence, a putative FabM was identified in the S. mutans strain UA159. We generated a fabM strain that does not produce unsaturated fatty acids as determined by gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters. The mutant strain was extremely sensitive to low pH in comparison to the wild type; however, the acid-sensitive phenotype was relieved by growth in the presence of long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids or through genetic complementation. The strain exhibited reduced glycolytic capability and altered glucose-PTS activity. In addition, the altered membrane composition was more impermeable to protons and did not maintain a normal {Delta}pH. The results suggest that altered membrane composition can significantly affect the acid survival capabilities, as well as several enzymatic activities, of S. mutans.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Center for Oral Biology, Box 611, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642. Phone: (585) 275-0382. Fax: (585) 506-0190. E-mail: Robert_Quivey{at}urmc.rochester.edu.

Journal of Bacteriology, July 2004, p. 4152-4158, Vol. 186, No. 13
0021-9193/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JB.186.13.4152-4158.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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