RegG, a CcpA homolog, participates in regulation of amylase-binding protein A gene (abpA) expression in streptococcus gordonii

The amylase-binding protein A (AbpA) of Streptococcus gordonii was found to be undetectable in supernatants of mid-log-phase cultures containing >1% glucose but abundant in supernatants of cultures made with brain heart infusion (BHI), which contains 0.2% glucose. A 10-fold decrease in the level of abpA mRNA in S. gordonii cells cultured in BHI was noted after the addition of glucose to 1%. Analysis of the abpA sequence revealed a potential catabolite responsive element CRE 153 bp downstream of the putative translational start site. A catabolite control protein A gene (ccpA) homolog from S. gordonii, designated regG, was cloned. A regG mutant strain demonstrated moderately less repression of abpA transcription in the presence of 1% glucose. Diauxic growth with glucose and lactose was not affected in the RegG mutant compared to the wild-type parental strain. These results suggest that while RegG plays a role in abpA expression, other mechanisms of catabolite repression are present.