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Up-regulation of competence- but not stress-responsive proteins accompanies an altered metabolic phenotype in Streptococcus mutans biofilms

Tracey Berg

Institute of Dental Research, Westmead Millennium Institute and Westmead Centre for Oral Health, PO Box 533, Wentworthville, NSW 2145, Australia

Correspondence
N. A. Jacques
njacques{at}dental.wsahs.nsw.gov.au

Mature biofilm and planktonic cells of Streptococcus mutans cultured in a neutral pH environment were subjected to comparative proteome analysis. Of the 242 protein spots identified, 48 were significantly altered in their level of expression (P<0·050) or were unique to planktonic or biofilm-grown cells. Among these were four hypothetical proteins as well as proteins known to be associated with the maintenance of competence or found to possess a cin-box-like element upstream of their coding gene. Most notable among the non-responsive genes were those encoding the molecular chaperones DnaK, GroEL and GroES, which are considered to be up-regulated by sessile growth. Analysis of the rest of the proteome indicated that a number of cellular functions associated with carbon uptake and cell division were down-regulated. The data obtained were consistent with the hypothesis that a reduction in the general growth rate of mature biofilms of S. mutans in a neutral pH environment is associated with the maintenance of transformation without the concomitant stress response observed during the transient state of competence in bacterial batch cultures.

Present addrss: Plant Protection, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Agriculture, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.

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