start-ver=1.4
cd-journal=joma
no-vol=12
cd-vols=
no-issue=1
article-no=
start-page=1797320
end-page=
dt-received=
dt-revised=
dt-accepted=
dt-pub-year=2020
dt-pub=20200804
dt-online=
en-article=
kn-article=
en-subject=
kn-subject=
en-title=
kn-title=Identification and functional analysis of glutamine transporter inStreptococcus mutans
en-subtitle=
kn-subtitle=
en-abstract=
kn-abstract=Background</br>
Streptococcus mutans, a biofilm-forming bacterium, possesses several transporters that function as import/export molecules. Among them, the PII protein family is composed of members that regulate glutamine synthesis in bacterial species.</br>
Objective</br>
In this study, we characterized the function of the glutamine transporter in S. mutans MT8148.</br>
Methods</br>
The SMU.732 gene, corresponding to glnP in S. mutans, is homologous to the glutamine transporter gene in Bacillus subtilis. We constructed a glnP-inactivated mutant strain (GEMR) and a complement strain (comp-GEMR) and evaluated their biological functions.</br>
Results</br>
Growth of GEMR was similar in the presence and absence of glutamine, whereas the growth rates of MT8148 and comp-GEMR were significantly lower in the presence of glutamine as compared to its absence. Furthermore, biofilms formed by MT8148 and comp-GEMR were significantly thicker than that formed by GEMR, while the GEMR strain showed a significantly lower survival rate in an acidic environment than the other strains. Addition of n-phenyl-2-naphthylamine, used to label of the membrane, led to increased fluorescence intensity of MT8148 and GEMR, albeit that was significantly lower in the latter.</br>
Conclusions</br>
These results suggest that glnP is associated with glutamine transport in S. mutans, especially the import of glutamine involved in biofilm formation.
en-copyright=
kn-copyright=

en-aut-name=MorikawaYuko
en-aut-sei=Morikawa
en-aut-mei=Yuko
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=1
ORCID=

en-aut-name=MorimotoSetsuyo
en-aut-sei=Morimoto
en-aut-mei=Setsuyo
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=2
ORCID=

en-aut-name=YoshidaEri
en-aut-sei=Yoshida
en-aut-mei=Eri
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=3
ORCID=

en-aut-name=NakaShuhei
en-aut-sei=Naka
en-aut-mei=Shuhei
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=4
ORCID=

en-aut-name=InabaHiroaki
en-aut-sei=Inaba
en-aut-mei=Hiroaki
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=5
ORCID=

en-aut-name=Matsumoto-NakanoMichiyo
en-aut-sei=Matsumoto-Nakano
en-aut-mei=Michiyo
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=6
ORCID=

affil-num=1
en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=2
en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=3
en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=4
en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=5
en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=6
en-affil=Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=
en-keyword=Streptococcus mutans
kn-keyword=Streptococcus mutans
en-keyword=glutamine transporter
kn-keyword=glutamine transporter
en-keyword=biofilm
kn-keyword=biofilm
en-keyword=membrane protein
kn-keyword=membrane protein
en-keyword=glnP
kn-keyword=glnP
END