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DNA adenine methylation influences gene expression and biofilm formation in <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>.

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Decoding Adenine DNA Methylation Effects in Streptococcus Mutans: Insights Into Self-DNA Protection and

Haowei Zhao1, Delphine Dufour1, Jamie Zhong1

  • 1Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Molecular Oral Microbiology
|December 3, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Streptococcus mutans uses quorum sensing to activate DNA adenine methylation (Dam methylation). This epigenetic mark influences gene expression, DNA uptake, and stress tolerance, impacting bacterial fitness and potentially offering new therapeutic targets.

Keywords:
Streptococcus mutansautoaggregationmethyltransferasemutanobactinrestriction‐modification system

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epigenetics
  • Bacterial Physiology

Background:

  • Streptococcus mutans causes dental caries and faces oral environmental challenges.
  • Quorum sensing via CSP-ComDE system regulates S. mutans responses to stress.
  • Bacterial adenine methylation (Dam methylation) plays roles beyond DNA protection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CSP-ComDE mediated quorum sensing in regulating S. mutans gene expression.
  • To identify and characterize the specific DNA methylation system involved in S. mutans stress response.
  • To explore the impact of Dam methylation on S. mutans fitness and foreign DNA acquisition.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of CSP pheromone-induced gene expression.
  • Identification and characterization of the DpnII restriction-modification system in S. mutans.
  • Assessing the effects of Dam methylation on natural transformation and mutanobactin expression.

Main Results:

  • CSP pheromone activates the expression of the DpnII restriction-modification system.
  • DpnII methylates GATC sites and cleaves unmarked DNA in S. mutans.
  • Dam methylation impacts natural transformation and mutanobactin expression, linking epigenetics to bacterial fitness.

Conclusions:

  • Dam methylation acts as a bridge between epigenetics and bacterial fitness in S. mutans.
  • The CSP-ComDE-DpnII pathway is a novel stress response mechanism.
  • Understanding Dam methylation may lead to new strategies against bacterial infections.