Int J Stomatol

Int J Stomatol ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (1): 98-106.doi: 10.7518/gjkq.2026204

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Research progress on the secondary metabolite Mutanobactin of Streptococcus mutans

Jianglan Xia(),Xingqun Cheng,Hongkun Wu()   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Dept. of Geriatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
  • Received:2024-12-04 Revised:2025-04-21 Online:2026-01-01 Published:2025-12-31
  • Contact: Hongkun Wu E-mail:1421934487@qq.com;811120691@qq.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(82101002);Key Research and Development Program of Sichuan Province(2021YFSY0011)

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Abstract:

Dental caries is a chronic infectious disease occurring in the hard tissue of teeth under the influence of bacteria. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is considered the major etiological agent of dental caries in humans. Mutanobactin is one of the secondary metabolites of S. mutans. It is one of non-ribosomal peptide/polyketide hybrid products and is mainly synthesized by the mub gene located in the TnSmu2 gene island. Additionally, the major types of this product are Mutanobactin A, B, C, and D, which can be synthesized in vitro. The Mutanobactin of S. mutans plays an important role in physiological functions ranging from oxidative stress resistance and interspecies competition to immunoregulation. Moreover, its production is affected by various regulatory mechanisms in vivo, the external environment, and commensal bacteria. This work mainly reviews the synthesis, physiological role, and related regulatory mechanisms of Mutanobactin to provide a new horizon for elucidating the caries virulence of S. mutans and new methods for oral microecological regulation and management of caries.

Key words: Streptococcus mutans, secondary metabolite, Mutanobactin, dental caries, microecological balance

CLC Number: 

  • R78

TrendMD: 

Fig 1

The phylogenetic analysis of the mub gene in Streptococcus mutans UA159"

Fig 2

Schematic diagram of the transcriptional direction of the mubgene"

Tab 1

The NRPS/PKS genes in Streptococcus mutans UA159"

基因推定的功能
SMU.1334C（sfp）磷酸泛酰巯基乙胺基转移酶
SMU.1335C（fabK）烯酰（酰基载体蛋白）还原酶
SMU.1336C（pksD）丙二酰辅酶A转酰酶
SMU.1337Cα/β-水解酶
SMU.1338C（mefE）ABC转运蛋白，大环内酯通透酶
SMU.1339C（bacC<bacD>）杆菌肽合成酶
SMU.1340C（bacA 2）表面活性素合成酶（杆菌肽合成酶1）
SMU.1341C（grs）短杆菌肽S合成酶2（短杆菌肽S合成酶）
SMU.1342C（bac A）杆菌肽合成酶1
SMU.1343C（pksC）杂合非核糖体肽合成酶/聚酮合成酶（聚酮合成酶）
SMU.1344C（fabD）酰基载体蛋白S-丙二酰转移酶
SMU.1345C（ituA）类似枯草芽孢杆菌中MycA的酰基辅酶A合成酶/连接酶
SMU.1346C（bacT）Ⅱ型硫酯酶
SMU.1347C（ymbB<ylbB>）ABC转运蛋白通透酶
SMU.1348C（pasA<psaA>）ATP依赖性ABC转运蛋白
SMU.1349TetR家族转录调节因子

Fig 3

Schematic diagram of the biosynthesis of Mutanobactin A"

Tab 2

Regulation of Mutanobactin biosynthesis"

调节因子推定的主要作用
FtsH降解堆积的Mutanobactin
VicR解除HLP对基因表达的抑制，促进基因表达
VicK促进合成基因表达（SMU.1334、SMU.1335、SMU.1336、SMU.1341、SMU.1342、SMU.1344）
SMU.833蛋白促进合成相关蛋白表达（SMU.1342、SMU.1340、SMU.1341）
TreR促进合成相关蛋白表达（SMU.1342、SMU.1344c、SMU.1340、SMU.1341s、SMU.1345c、SMU.1339、SMU.1336）
XIP促进合成相关基因表达（SMU.1335c-1340）
c-di-AMP促进合成相关基因表达（SMU.1334、SMU.1335c、SMU.1336、SMU.1337c）
ClpPΔclpP突变株表现出mubR表达上调，SMU.1339-SMU.1348显著下调

Fig 4

The chemical structures of Mutanobactin A, B, C, and D"

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