Identification of a Point Mutation Resulting in Loss of Cell Wall Anchoring Activity of SrtA of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> NG5

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans NG5 failed to anchor antigen P1 to the cell surface, and such a failure could be attributed to a defective SrtA, which was made defective by a point mutation within the srtA gene. Without a functional SrtA, S. mutans NG5 was not able to perform a number of cell surface-related activities, including saliva-mediated adherence and aggregation.