PUL ID

PUL0277

PubMed

23264576, J Bacteriol. 2013 Mar;195(5):1031-41. doi: 10.1128/JB.01560-12. Epub 2012 Dec 21.

Characterization method

gene deletion mutant and growth assay,qRT-PCR

Genomic accession number

AE005672.3

Nucelotide position range

1624067-1629762

Substrate

fructooligosaccharide

Loci

SP_1721-SP_1725

Species

Streptococcus pneumoniae/1313

Degradation or Biosynthesis

degradation

Gene Name

Locus Tag

Protein ID

Gene Position

GenBank Contig Range

EC Number

scrK SP_1721 AAK75798.1 0 - 888 (-) AE005672.3:1624067-1624955 2.7.1.4
- SP_1722 AAK75799.1 1036 - 2920 (-) AE005672.3:1625103-1626987 -
- SP_1723 AAK75800.1 3045 - 3243 (-) AE005672.3:1627112-1627310 -
scrB SP_1724 AAK75801.1 3295 - 4750 (+) AE005672.3:1627362-1628817 3.2.1.26
scrR SP_1725 AAK75802.1 4730 - 5696 (+) AE005672.3:1628797-1629763 -

Cluster number

1

Gene name

Gene position

Gene type

Found by CGCFinder?

scrK 1 - 888 (-) CDS No
- 1037 - 2920 (-) TC: gnl|TC-DB|P08470|4.A.1.2.1 Yes
- 3046 - 3243 (-) other Yes
scrB 3296 - 4750 (+) CAZyme: GH32 Yes
scrR 4731 - 5696 (+) TF: DBD-Pfam|LacI,DBD-SUPERFAMILY|0036955 No

PUL ID

PUL0277

PubMed

23264576, J Bacteriol. 2013 Mar;195(5):1031-41. doi: 10.1128/JB.01560-12. Epub 2012 Dec 21.

Title

The ABC transporter encoded at the pneumococcal fructooligosaccharide utilization locus determines the ability to utilize long- and short-chain fructooligosaccharides.

Author

Linke CM, Woodiga SA, Meyers DJ, Buckwalter CM, Salhi HE, King SJ

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that requires carbohydrates for growth. The significance of carbohydrate acquisition is highlighted by the genome encoding more than 27 predicted carbohydrate transporters. It has long been known that about 60% of pneumococci could utilize the fructooligosaccharide inulin as a carbohydrate source, but the mechanism of utilization was unknown. Here we demonstrate that a predicted sucrose utilization locus is actually a fructooligosaccharide utilization locus and imparts the ability of pneumococci to utilize inulin. Genes in strain TIGR4 predicted to encode an ABC transporter (SP_1796-8) and a beta-fructosidase (SP_1795) are required for utilization of several fructooligosaccharides longer than kestose, which consists of two beta(2-1)-linked fructose molecules with a terminal alpha(1-2)-linked glucose molecule. Similar to other characterized pneumococcal carbohydrate utilization transporter family 1 transporters, growth is dependent on the gene encoding the ATPase MsmK. While the majority of pneumococcal strains encode SP_1796-8 at this genomic location, 19% encode an alternative transporter. Although strains encoding either transporter can utilize short-chain fructooligosaccharides for growth, only strains encoding SP_1796-8 can utilize inulin. Exchange of genes encoding the SP_1796-8 transporter for those encoding the alternative transporter resulted in a TIGR4 strain that could utilize short-chain fructooligosaccharide but not inulin. These data demonstrate that the transporter encoded at this locus determines the ability of the bacteria to utilize long-chain fructooligosaccharides and explains the variation in inulin utilization between pneumococcal strains.