GENES INVOLVED IN CELL-WALL LOCALIZATION AND SIDE-CHAIN FORMATION OF RHAMNOSE-GLUCOSE POLYSACCHARIDE IN STREPTOCOCCUS-MUTANS

We identified in Streptococcus mutans six new genes (rgpA through rgpF ), whose disruption results in a loss of serotype-specific antigenicit y, specified by the glucose side chains of rhamnose-glucose polysaccha ride from the cell wall. Rhamnose and glucose content of the cell wall decreased drastically in all these disruption mutants, except that in the rgpE mutant only the glucose content decreased. RgpC and RgpD are homologous to ATP-binding cassette transporter components and may be involved in polysaccharide export, whereas RgpE may be a transferase o f side chain glucose.