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Journal of Bacteriology, September 2007, p. 6293-6302, Vol. 189, No. 17
0021-9193/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00546-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effects of Oxygen on Biofilm Formation and the AtlA Autolysin of Streptococcus mutans{triangledown}

Sang-Joon Ahn and Robert A. Burne*

Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida 32610

Received 10 April 2007/ Accepted 25 June 2007

The Streptococcus mutans atlA gene encodes an autolysin required for biofilm maturation and biogenesis of a normal cell surface. We found that the capacity to form biofilms by S. mutans, one of the principal causative agents of dental caries, was dramatically impaired by growth of the organism in an aerated environment and that cells exposed to oxygen displayed marked changes in surface protein profiles. Inactivation of the atlA gene alleviated repression of biofilm formation in the presence of oxygen. Also, the formation of long chains, a characteristic of AtlA-deficient strains, was less evident in cells grown with aeration. The SMu0629 gene is immediately upstream of atlA and encodes a product that contains a C-X-X-C motif, a characteristic of thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases. Inactivation of SMu0629 significantly reduced the levels of AtlA protein and led to resistance to autolysis. The SMu0629 mutant also displayed an enhanced capacity to form biofilms in the presence of oxygen compared to that of the parental strain. The expression of SMu0629 was shown to be under the control of the VicRK two-component system, which influences oxidative stress tolerance in S. mutans. Disruption of vicK also led to inhibition of processing of AtlA, and the mutant was hyperresistant to autolysis. When grown under aerobic conditions, the vicK mutant also showed significantly increased biofilm formation compared to strain UA159. This study illustrates the central role of AtlA and VicK in orchestrating growth on surfaces and envelope biogenesis in response to redox conditions.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610. Phone: (352) 392-4370. Fax: (352) 392-7357. E-mail: rburne{at}dental.ufl.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 6 July 2007.

Journal of Bacteriology, September 2007, p. 6293-6302, Vol. 189, No. 17
0021-9193/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00546-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Ahn, S.-J., Ahn, S.-J., Browngardt, C. M., Burne, R. A. (2009). Changes in Biochemical and Phenotypic Properties of Streptococcus mutans during Growth with Aeration. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 2517-2527 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Kajfasz, J. K., Martinez, A. R., Rivera-Ramos, I., Abranches, J., Koo, H., Quivey, R. G. Jr., Lemos, J. A. (2009). Role of Clp Proteins in Expression of Virulence Properties of Streptococcus mutans. J. Bacteriol. 191: 2060-2068 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Stoodley, P., Wefel, J., Gieseke, A., deBeer, D., von Ohle, C. (2008). Biofilm Plaque and Hydrodynamic Effects on Mass Transfer, Fluoride Delivery and Caries. Journal of the American Dental Association 139: 1182-1190 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ahn, S.-J., Ahn, S.-J., Wen, Z. T., Brady, L. J., Burne, R. A. (2008). Characteristics of Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus mutans in the Presence of Saliva. Infect. Immun. 76: 4259-4268 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
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  • Ahn, S.-J., Wen, Z. T., Burne, R. A. (2007). Effects of Oxygen on Virulence Traits of Streptococcus mutans. J. Bacteriol. 189: 8519-8527 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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