Systematic analysis of lysine malonylation in Streptococcus mutans

A glimpse into novel acylations and their emerging role in regulating cancer metastasis

Metastatic cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality; however, the complex regulation process remains to be further elucidated. A large amount of preliminary investigations focus on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in cancer metastasis. Notably, the posttranslational modifications were found to be critically involved in malignancy, thus attracting considerable attention. Beyond acetylation, novel forms of acylation have been recently identified following advances in mass spectrometry, proteomics technologies, and bioinformatics, such as propionylation, butyrylation, malonylation, succinylation, crotonylation, 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation, lactylation, among others. These novel acylations play pivotal roles in regulating different aspects of energy mechanism and mediating signal transduction by covalently modifying histone or nonhistone proteins. Furthermore, these acylations and their modifying enzymes show promise regarding the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, especially tumor metastasis. Here, we comprehensively review the identification and characterization of 11 novel acylations, and the corresponding modifying enzymes, highlighting their significance for tumor metastasis. We also focus on their potential application as clinical therapeutic targets and diagnostic predictors, discussing the current obstacles and future research prospects.

Regulatory mechanisms of exopolysaccharide synthesis and biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans

Background

Dental caries is a chronic, multifactorial and biofilm-mediated oral bacterial infection affecting almost every age group and every geographical region. Streptococcus mutans is considered an important pathogen responsible for the initiation and development of dental caries. It produces exopolysaccharides in situ to promote the colonization of cariogenic bacteria and coordinate dental biofilm development.

Objective

The understanding of the regulatory mechanism of S. mutans biofilm formation can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of caries.

Design

At present, an increasing number of studies have identified many regulatory systems in S. mutans that regulate biofilm formation, including second messengers (e.g. c-di-AMP, Ap4A), transcription factors (e.g. EpsR, RcrR, StsR, AhrC, FruR), two-component systems (e.g. CovR, VicR), small RNA (including sRNA0426, srn92532, and srn133489), acetylation modifications (e.g. ActG), CRISPR-associated proteins (e.g. Cas3), PTS systems (e.g. EIIAB), quorum-sensing signaling system (e.g. LuxS), enzymes (including Dex, YidC, CopZ, EzrA, lmrB, SprV, RecA, PdxR, MurI) and small-molecule metabolites.

Results

This review summarizes the recent progress in the molecular regulatory mechanisms of exopolysaccharides synthesis and biofilm formation in S. mutans.