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Journal of Bacteriology, February 2001, p. 897-908, Vol. 183, No. 3
0021-9193/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/JB.183.3.897-908.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Natural Genetic Transformation of Streptococcus mutans Growing in Biofilms

Yung-Hua Li, Peter C. Y. Lau, Janet H. Lee, Richard P. Ellen, and Dennis G. Cvitkovitch*

Dental Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1G6

Received 7 August 2000/Accepted 23 October 2000

Streptococcus mutans is a bacterium that has evolved to be dependent upon a biofilm "lifestyle" for survival and persistence in its natural ecosystem, dental plaque. We initiated this study to identify the genes involved in the development of genetic competence in S. mutans and to assay the natural genetic transformability of biofilm-grown cells. Using genomic analyses, we identified a quorum-sensing peptide pheromone signaling system similar to those previously found in other streptococci. The genetic locus of this system comprises three genes, comC, comD, and comE, that encode a precursor to the peptide competence factor, a histidine kinase, and a response regulator, respectively. We deduced the sequence of comC and its active pheromone product and chemically synthesized the corresponding 21-amino-acid competence-stimulating peptide (CSP). Addition of CSP to noncompetent cells facilitated increased transformation frequencies, with typically 1% of the total cell population transformed. To further confirm the roles of these genes in genetic competence, we inactivated them by insertion-duplication mutagenesis or allelic replacement followed by assays of transformation efficiency. We also demonstrated that biofilm-grown S. mutans cells were transformed at a rate 10- to 600-fold higher than planktonic S. mutans cells. Donor DNA included a suicide plasmid, S. mutans chromosomal DNA harboring a heterologous erythromycin resistance gene, and a replicative plasmid. The cells were optimally transformed during the formation of 8- to 16-h-old biofilms primarily consisting of microcolonies on solid surfaces. We also found that dead cells in the biofilms could act as donors of a chromosomally encoded antibiotic resistance determinant. This work demonstrated that a peptide pheromone system controls genetic competence in S. mutans and that the system functions optimally when the cells are living in actively growing biofilms.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Rm. 449A, Dental Research Institute, University of Toronto, 124 Edward St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1G6. Phone: (416) 979-4917 ext. 4592. Fax: (416) 979-4936. E-mail: dennis.cvitkovitch{at}utoronto.ca.


Journal of Bacteriology, February 2001, p. 897-908, Vol. 183, No. 3
0021-9193/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/JB.183.3.897-908.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.



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