Transcriptional Profiling Reveals the Importance of RcrR in the Regulation of Multiple Sugar Transportation and Biofilm Formation in Streptococcus mutans
Tao Gong, Xiaoya He, Jiamin Chen, Boyu Tang, Ting Zheng, Meiling Jing, Yongwang Lin, Yangyang Pan, Qizhao Ma, Yuqing Li, Xuedong Zhou
Abstract
The human oral cavity is a constantly changing environment. Tooth decay is a commonly prevalent chronic disease mainly caused by the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans. S. mutans is an oral pathogen that metabolizes various carbohydrates into extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs), biofilm, and tooth-destroying lactic acid. The host diet strongly influences the availability of multiple carbohydrates. Here, we showed that the RcrR transcription regulator plays a significant role in the regulation of biofilm formation and multiple sugar transportation. Further systematic evaluation of how RcrR regulates the transportation of various sugars and biofilm formation was also conducted. Notably, this study decrypts the physiological functions of RcrR as a potential target for the better prevention of dental caries.