The Pst system of Streptococcus mutans is important for phosphate transport and adhesion to abiotic surfaces

Abstract

The Pst system is a high-affinity inorganic phosphate transporter found in many bacterial species. Streptococcus mutans, the etiological agent of tooth decay, carries a single copy of the pst operon composed of six cistrons (pstS, pstC1, pstC, pstB, smu.1134 and phoU). Here, we show that deletion of pstS, encoding the phosphate-binding protein, reduces phosphate uptake and impairs cell growth, which can be restored upon enrichment of the medium with high concentrations of inorganic phosphate. The relevance of Pst for growth was also demonstrated in the wild-type strain treated with an anti-PstS antibody. Nevertheless, a reduced ability to bind to saliva-coated surfaces was observed, along with the reduction of extracellular polysaccharide production, although no difference on pH acidification was observed between mutant and wild-type strains. Taken together, the present data indicate that the S. mutans Pst system participates in phosphate uptake, cell growth and expression of virulence-associated traits.

SMU.746-SMU.747, a Putative Membrane Permease Complex, Is Involved in Aciduricity, Acidogenesis, and Biofilm Formation in Streptococcus mutans

“…Similar transport systems have been identified for amino acids, carbohydrates, oligopeptides, osmoprotectants (proline/ glycine betaine and choline), bacteriocins, and DNA (22). The fact that streptococci are equipped with a broad range of transporters that positively impact bacterial fitness and virulence (23)(24)(25)(26)(27) raises the proposition that these organisms prefer uptake, breakdown, and catabolism of nutrients, peptides, and amino acids instead of de novo synthesis.…”

Localized high abundance of Marine Group II archaea in the subtropical Pearl River Estuary: implications for their niche adaptation

“…The Pst system is a high-affinity inorganic phosphate transporter and has been shown to participate in phosphate uptake, cell growth and expression of virulenceassociated traits based on physiological experiments in some bacteria (Luz et al, 2012). Two pst gene clusters were found in the genome of MGIIa_P.…”

Novel genes required for the fitness ofStreptococcus pyogenesin human saliva

“…4E, Table S2). The pst operon encodes a high-affinity phosphate transporter and has been reported to contribute to bacterial virulence and fitness in a wide variety of pathogens (41, 43-45, 54-56). For example, genome-wide transposon mutagenesis screens found that pst operon is required for the fitness of S. pneumoniae in human saliva ex vivo (40) and mouse lung infections (57).…”

“…For example, genome-wide transposon mutagenesis screens found that pst operon is required for the fitness of S. pneumoniae in human saliva ex vivo (40) and mouse lung infections (57). In the oral pathogen S. mutans , deleting pstS results in decreased production of extracellular polysaccharide, and reduced ability to adhere to saliva-coated surfaces (56). The pst operon genes in gram-negative pathogens, have been reported to contribute to the virulence of Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli (41-45, 54).…”