RNA-Seq in S. mutans

What is it about?

We previously studied the role of major carbon catabolite regulator CcpA in controlling central metabolism and various virulence traits important for S. mutans to cause dental caries. In comparison to a Microarray analysis we performed before, we conducted RNA-sequencing in S. mutans to further delineate the function of CcpA. The results largely confirmed our previous conclusions and did so with greater detail and accuracy, also expanded the spectrum of genes influenced by CcpA and carbohydrate.

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Why is it important?

As a powerful tool to bacteriology, RNA-Seq is relatively new to the field of caries research and related gene regulation study. Our effort represents a first to investigate a large regulon using this technique and our prior knowledge regarding CcpA proved critical in interpreting and assessing the quality of the data.