Construction of the markless clpP-deletion mutant of Streptococcus mutans / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To construct markless gene deletion mutant at the clpP loci on the chromosome of Streptococcus mutans(S.mutans).Methods ASp resistance gene was amplified by PCR,to construct the Sp resistance cassette where the Sp resistance gene was flanked with two loxP site.After the clpP gene was cloned into the pGEM-T-Easy TA cloning vector,it was digested and linked with the Sp resistance cassette,yielding homologous recombination vector pIB △ clpP-Sp.The vector was linearized and used for the transformation of S.mutans UA159,with transformants selected on TPY plates containing Sp.The selected strain was transformed with the thermosensitive plasmid pCrePA to excise the Sp resistance gene.The pCre-PA was then easily eliminated at nonpermissive temperature,resulting in a markless mutant strain carrying a deletion at the clpP loci,which was verified by PCR and DNA sequencing.Results The result of the PCR analysis and DNA sequencing indicated that a part of the clpP gene was deleted.There was a loxP at this loci without the Sp resistance gene.Conclusion The markless clpP-deletion mutant of S.mutans was constructed successfully,which laid a foundation for further study of its biological function and its influence on the cariogenicity of S.mutans.