The gene encoding IIAB(Man)L in Streptococcus salivarius is part of a tetracistronic operon encoding a phosphoenolpyruvate: mannose/glucose phosphotransferase system

N-acetylglucosamine-Mediated Expression of nagA and nagB in Streptococcus pneumoniae

In this study, we have explored the transcriptomic response of Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 to N-acetylglucosamine (NAG). Transcriptome comparison of S. pneumoniae D39 wild-type grown in chemically defined medium (CDM) in the presence of 0.5% NAG to that grown in the presence of 0.5% glucose revealed elevated expression of many genes/operons, including nagA, nagB, manLMN, and nanP. We have further confirmed the NAG-dependent expression of nagA, nagB, manLMN, and nanP by β-galactosidase assays. nagA, nagB and glmS are putatively regulated by a transcriptional regulator NagR. We predicted the operator site of NagR (dre site) in PnagA, PnagB, and PglmS, which was further confirmed by mutating the predicted dre site in the respective promoters (nagA, nagB, and glmS). Growth comparison of ΔnagA, ΔnagB, and ΔglmS with the D39 wild-type demonstrates that nagA and nagB are essential for S. pneumoniae D39 to grow in the presence of NAG as a sole carbon source. Furthermore, deletion of ccpA shows that CcpA has no effect on the expression of nagA, nagB, and glmS in the presence of NAG in S. pneumoniae.

Induction of a quorum sensing pathway by environmental signals enhances group A streptococcal resistance to lysozyme

The human-restricted pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) is responsible for wide-ranging pathologies at numerous sites in the body but has the proclivity to proliferate in individuals asymptomatically. The ability to survive in diverse tissues is undoubtedly benefited by sensory pathways that recognize environmental cues corresponding to stress and nutrient availability and thereby trigger adaptive responses. We investigated the impact that environmental signals contribute to cell-to-cell chemical communication [quorum sensing (QS)] by monitoring activity of the Rgg2/Rgg3 and SHP-pheromone system in GAS. We identified metal limitation and the alternate carbon source mannose as two environmental indicators likely to be encountered by GAS in the host that significantly induced the Rgg-SHP system. Disruption of the metal regulator MtsR partially accounted for the response to metal depletion, whereas ptsABCD was primarily responsible for QS induction due to mannose, but each sensory system induced Rgg-SHP signaling apparently by different mechanisms. Significantly, we found that induction of QS, regardless of the GAS serotype tested, led to enhanced resistance to the antimicrobial agent lysozyme. These results indicate the benefits for GAS to integrate environmental signals with intercellular communication pathways in protection from host defenses.

Carbon catabolite repression by seryl phosphorylated HPr is essential to Streptococcus pneumoniae in carbohydrate-rich environments

Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is a regulatory phenomenon implemented by bacteria to hierarchically organize carbohydrate utilization in order to achieve maximal growth. CCR is likely of great importance to Streptococcus pneumoniae because the human host sites inhabited by this pathogen represent complex carbohydrate environments. In this species, inactivation of the prototypical Gram-positive CCR master regulator, ccpA, attenuates virulence in mice but does not relieve CCR of most metabolic enzymes, suggesting CcpA-independent CCR mechanisms predominate. Here we show the activities of three transcriptional regulators constitute the majority of transcriptional CCR of galactose metabolism operons. We determined seryl-phosphorylated histidine phosphocarrier protein (HPr-Ser∼P)-mediated regulation is a major CCR mechanism and an essential activity in the pneumococcus, as an HPr point mutation abolishing HPrK/P-dependent phosphorylation was not tolerated nor was deletion of hprk/p. The HPr-Ser∼P phosphomimetic mutant HPr S46D had reduced phosphotransferase system transport rates and limited induction of CCR-repressed genes. These results support a model of pneumococcal CCR in which HPr-Ser∼P directly affects the activity of CcpA while indirectly affecting the activity of pathway-specific transactional regulators. This report describes the first CcpA-independent CCR mechanism identified in the pneumococcus and the first example of lethality from loss of HPr-Ser∼P-mediated CCR in any species.

Uptake and metabolism of N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine by Streptococcus mutans

Glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine are among the most abundant sugars on the planet, and their introduction into the oral cavity via the diet and host secretions, and through bacterial biosynthesis, provides oral biofilm bacteria with a source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. In this study, we demonstrated that the dental caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans possesses an inducible system for the metabolism of N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine. These amino sugars are transported by the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS), with the glucose/mannose enzyme II permease encoded by manLMN playing a dominant role. Additionally, a previously uncharacterized gene product encoded downstream of the manLMN operon, ManO, was shown to influence the efficiency of uptake and growth on N-acetylglucosamine and, to a lesser extent, glucosamine. A transcriptional regulator, designated NagR, was able to bind the promoter regions in vitro, and repress the expression in vivo, of the nagA and nagB genes, encoding N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase and glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase, respectively. The binding activity of NagR could be inhibited by glucosamine-6-phosphate in vitro. Importantly, in contrast to the case with certain other Firmicutes, the gene for de novo synthesis of glucosamine-6-phosphate in S. mutans, glmS, was also shown to be regulated by NagR, and NagR could bind the glmS promoter region in vitro. Finally, metabolism of these amino sugars by S. mutans resulted in the production of significant quantities of ammonia, which can neutralize cytoplasmic pH and increase acid tolerance, thus contributing to enhanced persistence and pathogenic potential.

A functional genomics approach to establish the complement of carbohydrate transporters in Streptococcus pneumoniae

The aerotolerant anaerobe Streptococcus pneumoniae is part of the normal nasopharyngeal microbiota of humans and one of the most important invasive pathogens. A genomic survey allowed establishing the occurrence of twenty-one phosphotransferase systems, seven carbohydrate uptake ABC transporters, one sodium:solute symporter and a permease, underlining an exceptionally high capacity for uptake of carbohydrate substrates. Despite high genomic variability, combined phenotypic and genomic analysis of twenty sequenced strains did assign the substrate specificity only to two uptake systems. Systematic analysis of mutants for most carbohydrate transporters enabled us to assign a phenotype and substrate specificity to twenty-three transport systems. For five putative transporters for galactose, pentoses, ribonucleosides and sulphated glycans activity was inferred, but not experimentally confirmed and only one transport system remains with an unknown substrate and lack of any functional annotation. Using a metabolic approach, 80% of the thirty-two fermentable carbon substrates were assigned to the corresponding transporter. The complexity and robustness of sugar uptake is underlined by the finding that many transporters have multiple substrates, and many sugars are transported by more than one system. The present work permits to draw a functional map of the complete arsenal of carbohydrate utilisation proteins of pneumococci, allows re-annotation of genomic data and might serve as a reference for related species. These data provide tools for specific investigation of the roles of the different carbon substrates on pneumococcal physiology in the host during carriage and invasive infection.

Mutational analysis of glucose transport regulation and glucose-mediated virulence gene repression in Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes transports glucose/mannose via non-PTS permeases and phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase systems (PTS). Two mannose class PTS are encoded by the constitutively expressed mpoABCD and the inducible manLMN operons. The man operon encodes the main glucose transporter because manL or manM deletion significantly slows glucose utilization, whereas mpoA deletion has no effect. The PTS(Mpo) mainly functions as a constitutively synthesized glucose sensor controlling man operon expression by phosphorylating and interacting with ManR, a LevR-like transcription activator. EIIB(Mpo) plays a dual role in ManR regulation: P~EIIB(Mpo) prevailing in the absence of glucose phosphorylates and thereby inhibits ManR activity, whereas unphosphorylated EIIB(Mpo) prevailing during glucose uptake is needed to render ManR active. In contrast to mpoA, deletion of mpoB therefore strongly inhibits man operon expression and glucose consumption. A ΔptsI (EI) mutant consumes glucose at an even slower rate probably via GlcU-like non-PTS transporters. Interestingly, deletion of ptsI, manL, manM or mpoB causes elevated PrfA-mediated virulence gene expression. The PTS(Man) is the major player in glucose-mediated PrfA inhibition because the ΔmpoA mutant showed normal PrfA activity. The four mutants showing PrfA derepression contain no or only little unphosphorylated EIIAB(Man) (ManL), which probably plays a central role in glucose-mediated PrfA regulation.

Virulence gene pool detected in bovine group C Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae isolates by use of a group A S. pyogenes virulence microarray

A custom-designed microarray containing 220 virulence genes of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) was used to test group C Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae (GCS) field strains causing bovine mastitis and group C or group G Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (GCS/GGS) isolates from human infections, with the latter being used for comparative purposes, for the presence of virulence genes. All bovine and all human isolates carried a fraction of the 220 genes (23% and 39%, respectively). The virulence genes encoding streptolysin S, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, the plasminogen-binding M-like protein PAM, and the collagen-like protein SclB were detected in the majority of both bovine and human isolates (94 to 100%). Virulence factors, usually carried by human beta-hemolytic streptococcal pathogens, such as streptokinase, laminin-binding protein, and the C5a peptidase precursor, were detected in all human isolates but not in bovine isolates. Additionally, GAS bacteriophage-associated virulence genes encoding superantigens, DNase, and/or streptodornase were detected in bovine isolates (72%) but not in the human isolates. Determinants located in non-bacteriophage-related mobile elements, such as the gene encoding R28, were detected in all bovine and human isolates. Several virulence genes, including genes of bacteriophage origin, were shown to be expressed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Phylogenetic analysis of superantigen gene sequences revealed a high level (>98%) of identity among genes of bovine GCS, of the horse pathogen Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, and of the human pathogen GAS. Our findings indicate that alpha-hemolytic bovine GCS, an important mastitis pathogen and considered to be a nonhuman pathogen, carries important virulence factors responsible for virulence and pathogenesis in humans.

Streptococcus salivarius mutants defective in mannose phosphotransferase systems show reduced sensitivity to mutacins I-T9 and R-3B

Twenty-four mutacin-producing Streptococcus mutans strains were screened for their propensity to produce class II one-peptide bacteriocin using a deferred antagonism assay. Streptococcus salivarius and 3 mutants defective in their mannose phosphotransferase systems (mannose-PTS) were used as sensitive strains to identify which mannose-PTS could act as the docking site for class II one-peptide bacteriocin activity. We observed that only 2 strains of S. mutans, T9 and 3B, potentially produce class II one-peptide bacteriocin, namely mutacins I-T9 and R-3B, but with no preference for any mannose-PTS complex as a target.

Class IIa bacteriocin resistance in Enterococcus faecalis V583: the mannose PTS operon mediates global transcriptional responses

BACKGROUND

The class IIa bacteriocin, pediocin PA-1, has clear potential as food preservative and in the medical field to be used against Gram negative pathogen species as Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes. Resistance towards class IIa bacteriocins appear in laboratory and characterization of these phenotypes is important for their application. To gain insight into bacteriocin resistance we studied mutants of E. faecalis V583 resistant to pediocin PA-1 by use of transcriptomic analyses.

RESULTS

Mutants of E. faecalis V583 resistant to pediocin PA-1 were isolated, and their gene expression profiles were analyzed and compared to the wild type using whole-genome microarray. Significantly altered transcription was detected from about 200 genes; most of them encoding proteins involved in energy metabolism and transport. Glycolytic genes were down-regulated in the mutants, but most of the genes showing differential expression were up-regulated. The data indicate that the mutants were relieved from glucose repression and putative catabolic responsive elements (cre) could be identified in the upstream regions of 70% of the differentially expressed genes. Bacteriocin resistance was caused by reduced expression of the mpt operon encoding the mannose-specific phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS), and the same transcriptional changes were seen in a mptD-inactivated mutant. This mutant also had decreased transcription of the whole mpt operon, showing that the PTS is involved in its own transcriptional regulation.

CONCLUSION

Our data confirm the important role of mannose PTS in class IIa bacteriocin sensitivity and we demonstrate its importance involving global carbon catabolite control.

Ins and outs of glucose transport systems in eubacteria

Glucose is the classical carbon source that is used to investigate the transport, metabolism, and regulation of nutrients in bacteria. Many physiological phenomena like nutrient limitation, stress responses, production of antibiotics, and differentiation are inextricably linked to nutrition. Over the years glucose transport systems have been characterized at the molecular level in more than 20 bacterial species. This review aims to provide an overview of glucose uptake systems found in the eubacterial kingdom. In addition, it will highlight the diverse and sophisticated regulatory features of glucose transport systems.

Different roles of EIIABMan and EIIGlc in regulation of energy metabolism, biofilm development, and competence in Streptococcus mutans

The phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) is the major carbohydrate transport system in oral streptococci. The mannose-PTS of Streptococcus mutans, which transports mannose and glucose, is involved in carbon catabolite repression (CCR) and regulates the expression of known virulence genes. In this study, we investigated the role of EII(Glc) and EIIAB(Man) in sugar metabolism, gene regulation, biofilm formation, and competence. The results demonstrate that the inactivation of ptsG, encoding a putative EII(Glc), did not lead to major changes in sugar metabolism or affect the phenotypes of interest. However, the loss of EII(Glc) was shown to have a significant impact on the proteome and to affect the expression of a known virulence factor, fructan hydrolase (fruA). JAM1, a mutant strain lacking EIIAB(Man), had an impaired capacity to form biofilms in the presence of glucose and displayed a decreased ability to be transformed with exogenous DNA. Also, the lactose- and cellobiose-PTSs were positively and negatively regulated by EIIAB(Man), respectively. Microarrays were used to investigate the profound phenotypic changes displayed by JAM1, revealing that EIIAB(Man) of S. mutans has a key regulatory role in energy metabolism, possibly by sensing the energy levels of the cells or the carbohydrate availability and, in response, regulating the activity of transcription factors and carbohydrate transporters.

Molecular analysis of the glucose-specific phosphoenolpyruvate : sugar phosphotransferase system from Lactobacillus casei and its links with the control of sugar metabolism

Lactobacillus caseitransports glucose preferentially by a mannose-class phosphoenolpyruvate : sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS). The genomic analysis ofL. caseiallowed the authors to find a gene cluster (manLMNO) encoding the IIAB (manL), IIC (manM) and IID (manN) proteins of a mannose-class PTS, and a putative 121 aa protein of unknown function (encoded bymanO), homologues of which are also present inmanclusters that encode glucose/mannose transporters in other Gram-positive bacteria. TheL. casei manoperon is constitutively expressed into amanLMNOmessenger, but an additionalmanOtranscript was also detected. Upstream of themanoperon, two genes (upsRandupsA) were found which encode proteins resembling a transcriptional regulator and a membrane protein, respectively. Disruption of eitherupsRorupsAdid not affectmanLMNOtranscription, and had no effect on glucose uptake. Cells carrying amanOdeletion transported glucose at a rate similar to that of the wild-type strain. By contrast, amanMdisruption resulted in cells unable to transport glucose by the PTS, thus confirming the functional role of themangenes. In addition, themanMmutant exhibited neither inducer exclusion of maltose nor glucose repression. This result confirms the need for glucose transport through the PTS to trigger these regulatory processes inL. casei.

Putative mannose-specific phosphotransferase system component IID represses expression of suilysin in serotype 2 Streptococcus suis

In this study, we generated a genomic mutant library from a North American strain of serotype 2 Streptococcus suis using the pGh9:ISS1 transposition vector. Suilysin is the hemolysin made by S. suis. A hyper-hemolytic mutant was identified by screening for hemolytic phenotype using media with human blood. The hyper-hemolytic phenotype was characterised by a quantitative hemolysis microplate method. The use of green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter also showed that suilysin gene expression was greater in the mutant. DNA sequence analysis of 3.8 kb surrounding the ISS1 insertion site revealed four open reading frames (ORFs) with three consecutive ORFs that belong to a putative mannose-specific phosphotransferase system (PTS). The S. suis gene homologous to mannose permease IID, manN, was interrupted by the transposon. A complementation test showed that manN repressed the expression of suilysin and the absence of manN was responsible for the hyper-hemolytic phenotype. However, both wild type and isogenic hyper-hemolytic mutant S. suis fermented mannose, glucose and lactose. Thus, despite its potential roles in carbohydrate transport, phosphorylation and metabolism, the manN homologue in the putative mannose-specific PTS regulates gene expression in S. suis.

The csp operon of Streptococcus salivarius encodes two predicted cell-surface proteins, one of which, CspB, is associated with the fimbriae

A Tn917 mutant library was generated to identify genes involved in the biogenesis of Streptococcus salivarius fimbriae. A fimbria-deficient mutant was isolated by negative selection using an immunomagnetic separation technique with specific anti-fimbriae polyclonal antibodies (pAbs). The transposon was inserted in an ORF, called orf176, which encoded a protein of unknown function. The transposon prevented the transcription of orf176 as well as two genes located downstream, which are designated cspA and cspB and which form the csp operon. Sequence analyses of CspA and CspB revealed that both proteins possessed the classic cell-wall-anchoring motif (LPXTG) of Gram-positive bacterial surface proteins. Recombinant CspA (rCspA) and CspB (rCspB) proteins were generated in Escherichia coli and used to produce pAbs. Immunolocalization experiments showed that anti-rCspB, but not anti-rCspA antibodies specifically recognized S. salivarius fimbriae. Our results suggested that the csp operon encoded predicted cell-surface proteins, one of which, CspB, was associated with the fimbriae.

Genetic and biochemical characterization of the phosphoenolpyruvate:glucose/mannose phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus thermophilus

In most streptococci, glucose is transported by the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):glucose/mannose phosphotransferase system (PTS) via HPr and IIAB(Man), two proteins involved in regulatory mechanisms. While most strains of Streptococcus thermophilus do not or poorly metabolize glucose, compelling evidence suggests that S. thermophilus possesses the genes that encode the glucose/mannose general and specific PTS proteins. The purposes of this study were to determine (i) whether these PTS genes are expressed, (ii) whether the PTS proteins encoded by these genes are able to transfer a phosphate group from PEP to glucose/mannose PTS substrates, and (iii) whether these proteins catalyze sugar transport. The pts operon is made up of the genes encoding HPr (ptsH) and enzyme I (EI) (ptsI), which are transcribed into a 0.6-kb ptsH mRNA and a 2.3-kb ptsHI mRNA. The specific glucose/mannose PTS proteins, IIAB(Man), IIC(Man), IID(Man), and the ManO protein, are encoded by manL, manM, manN, and manO, respectively, which make up the man operon. The man operon is transcribed into a single 3.5-kb mRNA. To assess the phosphotransfer competence of these PTS proteins, in vitro PEP-dependent phosphorylation experiments were conducted with purified HPr, EI, and IIAB(Man) as well as membrane fragments containing IIC(Man) and IID(Man). These PTS components efficiently transferred a phosphate group from PEP to glucose, mannose, 2-deoxyglucose, and (to a lesser extent) fructose, which are common streptococcal glucose/mannose PTS substrates. Whole cells were unable to catalyze the uptake of mannose and 2-deoxyglucose, demonstrating the inability of the S. thermophilus PTS proteins to operate as a proficient transport system. This inability to transport mannose and 2-deoxyglucose may be due to a defective IIC domain. We propose that in S. thermophilus, the general and specific glucose/mannose PTS proteins are not involved in glucose transport but might have regulatory functions associated with the phosphotransfer properties of HPr and IIAB(Man).

Characterization of Streptococcus mutans strains deficient in EIIAB Man of the sugar phosphotransferase system

The phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) is the major sugar uptake system in oral streptococci. The role of EIIAB(Man) (encoded by manL) in gene regulation and sugar transport was investigated in Streptococcus mutans UA159. The manL knockout strain, JAM1, grew more slowly than the wild-type strain in glucose but grew faster in mannose and did not display diauxic growth, indicating that EIIAB(Man) is involved in sugar uptake and in carbohydrate catabolite repression. PTS assays of JAM1, and of strains lacking the inducible (fruI) and constitutive (fruCD) EII fructose, revealed that S. mutans EIIAB(Man) transported mannose and glucose and provided evidence that there was also a mannose-inducible or glucose-repressible mannose PTS. Additionally, there appears to be a fructose PTS that is different than FruI and FruCD. To determine whether EIIAB(Man) controlled expression of the known virulence genes, glucosyltransferases (gtfBC) and fructosyltransferase (ftf) promoter fusions of these genes were established in the wild-type and EIIAB(Man)-deficient strains. In the manL mutant, the level of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity expressed from the gtfBC promoter was up to threefold lower than that seen with the wild-type strain at pH 6 and 7, indicating that EIIAB(Man) is required for optimal expression of gtfBC. No significant differences were observed between the mutant and the wild-type background in ftf regulation, with the exception that under glucose-limiting conditions at pH 7, the mutant exhibited a 2.1-fold increase in ftf expression. Two-dimensional gel analysis of batch-grown cells of the EIIAB(Man)-deficient strain indicated that the expression of at least 38 proteins was altered compared to that seen with the wild-type strain, revealing that EIIAB(Man) has a pleiotropic effect on gene expression.

The Streptococcus pneumoniae cia regulon: CiaR target sites and transcription profile analysis

The ciaR-ciaH system is one of 13 two-component signal-transducing systems of the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Mutations in the histidine protein kinase CiaH confer increased resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and interfere with the development of genetic competence. In order to identify the genes controlled by the cia system, the cia regulon, DNA fragments targeted by the response regulator CiaR were isolated from restricted chromosomal DNA using the solid-phase DNA binding assay and analyzed by hybridization to an oligonucleotide microarray representing the S. pneumoniae genome. A set of 18 chromosomal regions containing 26 CiaR target sites were detected and proposed to represent the minimal cia regulon. The putative CiaR target loci included genes important for the synthesis and modification of cell wall polymers, peptide pheromone and bacteriocin production, and the htrA-spo0J region. In addition, the transcription profile of cia loss-of-function mutants and those with an apparent activated cia system representing the off and on states of the regulatory system were analyzed. The transcript analysis confirmed the cia-dependent expression of seven putative target loci and revealed three additional cia-regulated loci. Five putative target regions were silent under all conditions, and for the remaining three regions, no cia-dependent expression could be detected. Furthermore, the competence regulon, including the comCDE operon required for induction of competence, was completely repressed by the cia system.

Multiple alternate transcripts direct the biosynthesis of microcystin, a cyanobacterial nonribosomal peptide

The mcyABCDEFGHIJ gene cluster of Microcystis aeruginosa encodes the mixed polyketide synthase/nonribosomal peptide synthetase (microcystin synthetase) which is responsible for biosynthesis of the potent liver toxin microcystin. The sequence and orientation of the mcy genes have previously been reported, but no transcriptional analysis had been performed prior to this study. The mcyABCDEFGHIJ genes are transcribed as two polycistronic operons, mcyABC and mcyDEFGHIJ, from a central bidirectional promoter between mcyA and mcyD. Two transcription start sites were detected for both mcyA and mcyD when cells were exposed to light intensities of 68 and 16 micromol of photons m(-2) s(-1). The start sites, located 206 and 254 bp upstream of the translational start for mcyD under high and low light conditions, respectively, indicate long untranslated leader regions. Putative transcription start sites were also identified for mcyE, mcyF, mcyG, mcyH, mcyI, and mcyJ but not for mcyB and mcyC. A combination of reverse transcription-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends was employed throughout this work, which may have been one of the first transcriptional analyses of a large nonribosomal polyketide gene cluster.

Characterization of two operons that encode components of fructose-specific enzyme II of the sugar:phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus mutans

Three genes, designated as fruC, fruD and fruI, were predicted to encode polypeptides homologous to fructose-specific enzyme II (II(Fru)) of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar:phosphotransferase system, and were cloned from Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of human dental caries. The fruC and fruD genes encoded domains BC and domain A of II(Fru), respectively. The fruI gene encoded IICBA(Fru). Northern hybridization and slot blot analysis showed that expression of fruI was inducible by sucrose and fructose, while fruCD were expressed constitutively and at much lower levels. Inactivation of either fruI or fruCD alone, or of both fruCD and fruI, had no major impact on growth on fructose at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v). However, when the strains were grown with 0.2% fructose as the sole carbohydrate source, a significant decrease in the growth rate was seen with the fruCD/fruI double mutants. Assays of sugar:phosphotransferase activity showed that the fruCD/fruI double mutants had roughly 30% of the capacity of the wild-type strain to transport fructose via the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar:phosphotransferase system. Xylitol toxicity assays indicated that the inducible fructose permease was responsible for xylitol transport.

A sigma(54)-dependent PTS permease of the mannose family is responsible for sensitivity of Listeria monocytogenes to mesentericin Y105

Sensitivity of Listeria monocytogenes to the bacteriocin mesentericin Y105 was previously shown to be dependent on the sigma(54) subunit of the RNA polymerase. This points towards expression of particular sigma(54)-dependent genes. The present study describes first, ManR, a new sigma(54)-associated activator, and second, Ell(t)(Man), a new sigma(54)-dependent PTS permease of the mannose family, both involved in sensitivity to mesentericin Y105, since interruption of their corresponding genes led to resistance of L. monocytogenes EGDe. Ell(t)(Man) is likely composed of three subunits encoded by the mpt operon (mptA, mptC and mptD genes). Interruption of either the proximal (mptA) or distal (mptD) gene led to resistance, supporting results obtained in Enterococcus faecalis. Accordingly, such PTS permeases of the mannose family should be involved in sensitivity of different target strains to mesentericin Y105. In L. monocytogenes, expression of the mpt operon is shown to be controlled by sigma(54) and ManR and to be induced by both glucose and mannose. The latter result indicates that these sugars are transported by the Ell(t)(Man) permease. Moreover, these sugars correlatively induce sensitivity of L. monocytogenes to mesentericin Y105, strongly favouring the primary role of Ell(t)(Man). MptD, a membrane subunit of Ell(t)(Man), presents an additional domain compared to most IID(Man) subunits described in data banks. An in-frame deletion of this domain in mptD led to resistance of L. monocytogenes, showing its connection with sensitivity and suggesting that it could be directly involved in the recognition of the target cell by mesentericin Y105. Taken together, the results of this work demonstrate that Ell(t)(Man) is prominent in sensitivity to mesentericin Y105 and could be a receptor for subclass IIa bacteriocins.

Contribution of the phosphoenolpyruvate:mannose phosphotransferase system to carbon catabolite repression in Lactobacillus pentosus

The role of the Lactobacillus pentosus phosphoenolpyruvate:mannose phosphotransferase system (mannose PTS) in sugar transport and control of sugar utilization was investigated. Growth experiments and measurements of PEP-dependent phosphorylation of sugars, of sugar transport and of catabolic enzyme activity were performed, to compare a wild-type strain with an EIIB(Man) mutant, LPE6, and a ccpA mutant, LPE4. Fructose uptake in wild-type bacteria demonstrated the presence of two fructose-specific PTSs: a high-affinity system, EII(Fru) (K:(m)=52 microM) which is inducible by fructose, and a low-affinity system (K:(m)=300 microM). The latter system was lacking in LPE6 and therefore corresponds to EII(Man). LPE6 was unable to phosphorylate glucose, mannose, N:-acetylglucosamine and 2-deoxyglucose in a PEP-dependent reaction, indicating that these sugars are substrates of EII(Man). Transport and phosphorylation of these compounds was the same in LPE4 and in wild-type bacteria, although growth of LPE4 on these sugars was impaired. In wild-type bacteria and in LPE4 the activity of EII(Fru) was lowered by the presence of EII(Man) substrates in the growth medium, but this decrease was not observed in LPE6. These results indicate that EII(Man) but not CcpA regulates the synthesis of EII(Fru). Mutations in EII(Man) or CcpA resulted in a relief of catabolite repression exerted by EII(Man) substrates on the activity of beta-galactosidase and beta-glucosidase, indicating that EII(Man) and CcpA are important components in catabolite repression in L. pentosus. Fructose-mediated repression of these two enzymes appeared to be correlated with the activity of EII(Fru).