Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
09:51
Purification of a High Molecular Mass Protein in Streptococcus mutans
Published on: September 14, 2019
Requirements for surface expression and function of adhesin P1 from Streptococcus mutans
Paula J Crowley1, Trevor B Seifert, Ryutaro Isoda
1Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Infection and Immunity
|March 26, 2008
Summary
Streptococcus mutans adhesin P1 translocation requires specific structural features and cellular factors like RopA and DnaK. Its maturation and secretion involve complex protein-folding and turnover pathways, including HtrA protease activity.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Protein Biochemistry
Background:
- Streptococcus mutans adhesin P1 is crucial for bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation.
- Understanding P1's translocation and maturation is key to developing strategies against dental caries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the requirements for successful translocation and functional maturation of Streptococcus mutans adhesin P1.
- To characterize conformational epitopes of P1 for use as monitoring tools.
- To investigate the roles of cellular factors in P1 processing.
Main Methods:
- Monoclonal antibody characterization
- Analysis of protein structure-function relationships
- Investigating protein-folding and secretion machinery interactions
Main Results:
- P1 localization depends on intramolecular A-P region interaction and cellular factors RopA and DnaK.
- Absence of RopA prevents P1 functional maturation; limited DnaK delays translocation.
- HtrA protease activity is involved in P1 turnover, with substrate-dependent function.
Conclusions:
- Successful P1 translocation and maturation are complex processes influenced by P1 structure and host cell factors.
- Cellular components like RopA, DnaK, and HtrA play critical roles in P1 processing.
- HtrA exhibits adaptable chaperone/protease activity based on P1 structure and cellular conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Surface Appendages of Archaea
Archaeal surface appendages are highly specialized structures essential for environmental adaptation, encompassing roles in adhesion, biofilm formation, and motility. Among these appendages, pili and archaella stand out for their distinct morphologies and functionalities, enabling archaea to thrive in diverse and often extreme environments.Pili: Adhesion and Biofilm FormationPili are filamentous structures assembled from pilin protein subunits, primarily contributing to adhesion and biofilm...
01:24Adherens Junctions
Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types – adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
01:28Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments
Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...
01:29Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
01:20Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence
Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...
01:27Streptococcal Pharyngitis
Streptococcal pharyngitis, commonly known as “strep throat,” is an acute infection of the oropharyngeal tissues caused by the Gram‑positive Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes). Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, or talking.Mechanisms of Host Entry and Immune EvasionUpon entering the host, S. pyogenes adheres to the mucosal epithelial cells of the pharynx via surface proteins, notably lipoteichoic acid and the antiphagocytic...