Preliminary 1H NMR-based Metabolomics Analysis to Explore The LinkBetween SrtA Function and Cariogenicity of S.mutans

Objectives: Streptococcus mutans is major pathogen associated with caries, its adhesion to tooth surfaces is first step in cariogenesis. Sortase A (SrtA) is a key enzyme responsible for anchoring proteins in the cell wall; deleting gene reduces cariogenicity of pathogen. To gain insight into how SrtA supports cariogenicity, we performed a metabonomics study based on 1H nuclear magnetic resonance in which we compared extracellular metabolites of wild-type S. mutans UA159 a SrtA-deficient strain.Methods: Metabolite differences between strains were identified using a combination of principal component analysis orthogonality partial least squares discriminant analysis.Results: Several differences were identified, corresponding mostly to unknown metabolites. Some amino acids such as leucine valine (δ0.92-1.20 ppm), lactic acid (δ1.28 ppm), oxoglutaric acid (δ3.00 ppm), glycine (δ3.60 ppm) were found to differ between strains.Conclusions: These results highlight feasibility of using metabonomics for functional analysis of genes and correlation with clinical effects.