RT Journal Article
T1 The Acetylglucosaminidase LytB of Streptococcus pneumoniae is Involved in the Structure and Formation of Biofilms
A1 Domenech Lucas, Miriam
A1 García, Ernesto
AB The N-acetylglucosaminidase LytB of Streptococcus pneumoniae is involved in nasopharyngeal colonization and is responsible for cell separation at the end of cell division; thus, ΔlytB mutants form long chains of cells. This paper reports the construction and properties of a defective pneumococcal mutant producing an inactive LytB protein (LytBE585A). It is shown that an enzymatically active LytB is required for in vitro biofilm formation, as lytB mutants (either ΔlytB or producing the inactive LytBE585A) are incapable of forming substantial biofilms, despite that extracellular DNA is present in the biofilm matrix. Adding small amounts (0.5 to 2.0 μg/ml) of exogenous LytB or some LytB constructs restored the biofilm-forming capacity of lytB mutants to wild-type levels. The LytBE585A mutant formed biofilm more rapidly than ΔlytB mutants in the presence of LytB. This suggests that the mutant protein acted in a structural role, likely through the formation of complexes with extracellular DNA. The chain-dispersing capacity of LytB allowed the separation of daughter cells, presumably facilitating the formation of microcolonies and, finally, of biofilms. A role for the possible involvement of LytB in the synthesis of the extracellular polysaccharide component of the biofilm matrix is also discussed.
PB American Society for Microbiology
SN 0099-2240
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/98133
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/98133
LA eng
NO Domenech M, García E 2020. The N-Acetylglucosaminidase LytB of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Involved in the Structure and Formation of Biofilms. Appl Environ Microbiol 86:e00280-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00280-20
NO Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (España)
NO Instituto de Salud Carlos III
DS Docta Complutense
RD 29 abr 2025