Molecular mechanisms controlling fructose‐specific memory and catabolite repression in lactose metabolism by Streptococcus mutans

What is it about?

When previously cultured on a preferred carbohydrate source, especially fructose, certain strains of the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans will growth arrest when transferred to medium containing lactose, and will not resume normal growth for several hours; displaying what we call long-term memory. Here, we show that the LacR protein, a repressor of the lactose operon, works in concert with other regulatory proteins and metabolites to optimize carbohydrate utilization in ways that have not previously been appreciated.

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