• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.81-86
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• 2014

Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that inhibits the growth of oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans. In this study, we tested xylitol sensitivity among the oral streptococci. We also compared nucleotide homology of putative fructose phosphotransferase system (PTS) and xylitol sensitivity, since xylitol is transported via the fructose PTS. Among the tested Streptococci, S. pneumonia showed the highest resistance to xylitol while S. gordonii and S. sanguinis showed the most sensitive growth inhibition. These streptococci could be grouped according to their xylitol sensitivity. S. mutans and S. salivarius showed similar bacterial growth inhibition by xylitol. S. mitis, S. oralis, S. pneumonia, S. intermedius and S. anginosus showed relatively low sensitivity to xylitol. When the genetic homologies of five fructose PTSs were compared among the tested streptococci, closely related streptococci showed similar sensitivity to xylitol. Taken together, fructose PTSs may mediate the sensitivity to xylitol in oral streptococci.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.495-500
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• 2016

We have solved the crystal structure of a predicted fructose-specific enzyme $IIB^{fruc}$ from Escherichia coli ($EcEIIB^{fruc}$) involved in the phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system transferring carbohydrates across the cytoplasmic membrane. $EcEIIB^{fruc}$ belongs to a sequence family with more than 5,000 sequence homologues with 25-99% amino-acid sequence identity. It reveals a conventional Rossmann-like ${\alpha}-{\beta}-{\alpha}$ sandwich fold with a unique ${\beta}$-sheet topology. Its C-terminus is longer than its closest relatives and forms an additional ${\beta}$-strand whereas the shorter C-terminus is random coil in the relatives. Interestingly, its core structure is similar to that of enzyme $IIB^{cellobiose}$ from E. coli ($EcIIB^{cel}$) transferring a phosphate moiety. In the active site of the closest $EcEIIB^{fruc}$ homologues, a unique motif CXXGXAHT comprising a P-loop like architecture including a histidine residue is found. The conserved cysteine on this loop may be deprotonated to act as a nucleophile similar to that of $EcIIB^{cel}$. The conserved histidine residue is presumed to bind the negatively charged phosphate. Therefore, we propose that the catalytic mechanism of $EcEIIB^{fruc}$ is similar to that of $EcIIB^{cel}$ transferring phosphoryl moiety to a specific carbohydrate.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.349-361
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• 2010

본 총설에서는 아미노산의 공업적 생산균인 Corynebacterium glutamicum의 탄소 대사 및 이와 관련된 총체적 조절 메커니즘에 대한 최근의 연구를 정리하였다. C. glutamicum의 산업적 발효을 위한 기질로서 사용되는 당밀은 주로 sucrose, glucose, fructose로 이루어져 있으며, 이들 당은 phosphotransferase system을 통해서 수송된다. C. glutamicum의 탄소 대사 특징은 glucose가 다른 당이나 유기산 등과 함께 존재할 때, glucose와 이러한 탄소원 들을 동시에 대사한다. 그러나 glucose/glutamate 혹은 glucose/ethanol 등의 혼합물에서 는 탄소원의 순차적 이용으로 인해 나타나는 diauxic growth 현상을 나타내며, 이러한 carbon catabolite repression(CCR) 현상은 E. coli나 B. subtilis 등에서 알려진 것과는 다른 독특한 분자적 메커니즘과 조절 circuits을 가지고 있음이 밝혀지고 있다. C. glutamicum의 CRP homologue인 GlxR은 acetate 대사를 포함하여 glycolysis, gluconeogenesis 및 TCA cycle 등을 포함하는 중심탄소대사 조절 뿐만 아니라, 다양한 세포 기능의 조절에 관여하는 총체적 조절 단백질로서의 역할이 제시되고 있다. C. glutamicum의 adenylate cyclase(AC)는 막과 결합된 class IIIAC 로서, 막 단백질의 특성상 아직 규명되어 있지 않은 세포 외부의 환경 변화에 대응하여 세포 내의 cAMP합성 수준을 조절할 수 있는 sensor로 추정할 수 있다. 특히 C. glutamicum의 경우 배지내 glucose 를 비롯한 탄소원과 cAMP 농도와의 관련성이 E. coli에서 알려진 교과서적 지식과는 상반되게 변화하는 경향을 보이고 있어, cAMP signaling에 의한 세포 내 regulatory network 등은 향후 풀어야 할 의문으로 남아있다. 탄소대사 조절의 최상위에 존재하며 global 조절자인 GlxRcAMP 복합체 이외에도 차상위 전사조절 단백질로서 RamB, RamA, SugR 등이 존재하여 다양한 탄소대사를 조절한다. 최근 들어서는 새로운 탄소원으로서 대두되고 있는 biomass 관련 기질들을 이용할 수 있는 C. glutamucum 균주 구축을 통하여 이용 기질의 범위를 확대시키고자 하는 연구 및 탄소 대사와 관련하여 L-lysine의 발효 수율 혹은 생산성을 향상시키고자 하는 다양한 분자적 균주 육종 연구 등이 수행되고 있다.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.282-297
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• 2022

Purpose: To explore differences in the subgingival microbiome according to the presence of periodontitis and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), a metagenomic sequencing analysis of the subgingival microbiome was performed. Methods: Twelve participants were divided into 4 groups based on their health conditions (periodontitis, T2D, T2D complicated with periodontitis, and generally healthy). Subgingival plaque was collected for metagenomic sequencing, and gingival crevicular fluids were collected to analyze the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids. Results: The shifts in the subgingival flora from the healthy to periodontitis states were less prominent in T2D subjects than in subjects without T2D. The pentose and glucuronate interconversion, fructose and mannose metabolism, and galactose metabolism pathways were enriched in the periodontitis state, while the phosphotransferase system, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan biosynthesis, bacterial secretion system, sulfur metabolism, and glycolysis pathways were enriched in the T2D state. Multiple genes whose expression was upregulated from the red and orange complex bacterial genomes were associated with bacterial biofilm formation and pathogenicity. The concentrations of propionic acid and butyric acid were significantly higher in subjects with periodontitis, with or without T2D, than in healthy subjects. Conclusions: T2D patients are more susceptible to the presence of periodontal pathogens and have a higher risk of developing periodontitis. The pentose and glucuronate interconversion, fructose and mannose metabolism, galactose metabolism, and glycolysis pathways may represent the potential microbial functional association between periodontitis and T2D, and butyric acid may play an important role in the interaction between these 2 diseases. The enrichment of the LPS and peptidoglycan biosynthesis, bacterial secretion system, and sulfur metabolism pathways may cause T2D patients to be more susceptible to periodontitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.162-169
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• 2011

A dynamic model of lactic acid fermentation using Lactococcus lactis was constructed, and a metabolic flux analysis (MFA) and metabolic control analysis (MCA) were performed to reveal an intensive metabolic understanding of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The parameter estimation was conducted with COPASI software to construct a more accurate metabolic model. The experimental data used in the parameter estimation were obtained from an LC-MS/MS analysis and time-course simulation study. The MFA results were a reasonable explanation of the experimental data. Through the parameter estimation, the metabolic system of lactic acid bacteria can be thoroughly understood through comparisons with the original parameters. The coefficients derived from the MCA indicated that the reaction rate of L-lactate dehydrogenase was activated by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and pyruvate, and pyruvate appeared to be a stronger activator of L-lactate dehydrogenase than fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. Additionally, pyruvate acted as an inhibitor to pyruvate kinase and the phosphotransferase system. Glucose 6-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate showed activation effects on pyruvate kinase. Hexose transporter was the strongest effector on the flux through L-lactate dehydrogenase. The concentration control coefficient (CCC) showed similar results to the flux control coefficient (FCC).

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.175-180
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• 2013

Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that reduces the incidence of caries by inhibiting the growth of oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans. Since xylitol is transported via the fructose phosphotransferase system, we hypothesized that it could also affect the growth of other oral bacteria strains. We tested the effects of xylitol against non-periodontopathogenic oral bacteria frequently found in healthy subjects as well as periodontopathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia. With 5% xylitol, Streptococcus vestibularis and Gemella morbillorum showed marked growth inhibition. With 10% xylitol, all of the tested periodontopathogens and Actinomyces naeslundii showed marked growth inhibition, whereas the growth inhibition of Neisseria mucosa, Neisseria sicca and Veillonella parvula was mild only. Xylitol is a widely used sweetener and the concentration used in our experiment is easily achieved in the oral cavity. If xylitol reduces the growth of periodontopathogens more preferentially, it could also reduce the prevalence of these pathogens and have clinical utility in the prevention or treatment of periodontal disease.