Characterization of two operons that encode components of fructose-specific enzyme II of the sugar:phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus mutans.

Three genes, designated as fruC, fruD and fruI, were predicted to encode polypeptides homologous to fructose-specific enzyme II (II(Fru)) of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar:phosphotransferase system, and were cloned from Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of human dental caries. The fruC and fruD genes encoded domains BC and domain A of II(Fru), respectively. The fruI gene encoded IICBA(Fru). Northern hybridization and slot blot analysis showed that expression of fruI was inducible by sucrose and fructose, while fruCD were expressed constitutively and at much lower levels. Inactivation of either fruI or fruCD alone, or of both fruCD and fruI, had no major impact on growth on fructose at a concentration of 0.5% (w/v). However, when the strains were grown with 0.2% fructose as the sole carbohydrate source, a significant decrease in the growth rate was seen with the fruCD/fruI double mutants. Assays of sugar:phosphotransferase activity showed that the fruCD/fruI double mutants had roughly 30% of the capacity of the wild-type strain to transport fructose via the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar:phosphotransferase system. Xylitol toxicity assays indicated that the inducible fructose permease was responsible for xylitol transport.