Small noncoding RNA sRNA0426 is involved in regulating biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

Evidence suggests that small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are involved in the complex regulatory networks governing biofilm formation. Few studies have investigated the role of sRNAs in Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). In the present study, the association between sRNA and biofilm formation in S. mutans was explored. sRNAs that are differentially expressed in the biofilm and planktonic states of this bacterium were identified by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to investigate the characteristics of biofilm formation in a standard strain of S. mutans (UA159, ATCC 700610) and ten clinical strains. Bioinformatics analyses were employed to predict and examine potential sRNA regulatory pathways. The results showed that sRNA0426 has a strong positive relationship with dynamic biofilm formation. Moreover, sRNA0426 expression was positively correlated with exopolysaccharide (EPS) production. Bioinformatics analyses showed that sRNA0426 is involved in biofilm formation such as metabolic pathways, especially carbon metabolism. Five target mRNAs (GtfB, GtfC, GtfD, ComE, and CcpA) involved in the synthesis of EPS were selected for further evaluation; the expression levels of three of these mRNAs (GtfB, GtfC, and CcpA) were positively correlated with sRNA0426 expression levels, and the expression level of one (ComE) was negatively correlated. In conclusion, the results suggested that sRNA0426 may play an important and positive role in the biofilm formation of S. mutans and provide novel insight into the S. mutans biofilm regulatory network.

Regulatory mechanisms of exopolysaccharide synthesis and biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans

“…Yin et al . detected a potential sRNA regulation pathway in S. mutans by bioinformatics technology [ 52 ]. The results showed that sRNA0426 has a strong positive relationship with the dynamic biofilm formation in S. mutans .…”

Regulation of biofilm formation by non-coding RNA in prokaryotes

“…(2019) Bacillus subtilis RsaE regulates PIA mediated biofilms Schoenfelder et al. (2019) Streptococcus mutans FasX inhibits collagen-binding pilus and biofilm ( Liu et al., 2012 ; Danger et al., 2015 ) Streptococcus mutans sRNA0426 regulates exopolysaccharide biosynthesis Yin et al. (2020) Streptococcus mutans AS vic R negatively regulates biofilm biomass Lei et al.…”

Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic Bacteria

“…Bacterial non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), although not translated into functional proteins, can regulate sensitivity to antibiotics [33,270] as well as biofilm formation [271][272][273][274][275][276], virulence [277][278][279][280][281], and stress responses [280,[282][283][284] by modulating gene expression. Some regulatory ncRNAs (rRNAs) reside in the 5'UTR of the regulated gene and sense the presence of the antibiotics by recruiting translating ribosomes onto short upstream open reading frames embedded in the ncRNA.…”