Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferases form extracellular glucans
from sucrose to promote adhesion to the teeth. We tested whether additional factors
are involved in S. mutans sucrose-dependent adhesion. By screening a
pVA891-insertion mutant library of S. mutans LT11, we isolated four
clones deficient in adhesion to glass in the presence of sucrose, but normal in
glucosyltransferase activities. The genetic loci flanking the insertion sites were
retrieved and identified. They encode glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an ABC
transporter, a multidrug-efflux pump, and either the ribulose monophosphate operon or
ascorbate metabolism operon. The four mutants were analyzed for their phenotypic
expression and in vivo colonization in rats. The multidrug efflux
pump mutant failed to colonize the rats. Three other mutants colonized the rats by
reverting to the wild type. Therefore, these four factors may contribute to
S. mutans sucrose-dependent adhesion.
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