Streptococcus mutans(S.mutans), as one of the primary cariogenic bacteria, can respond to several environmental stresses. This ability mainly depends on the translation and expression of variety of heat shock protein genes.groE operon, one of the best-studied heat shock genes, affects the metabolism of cells by translating the heat shock proteins,groES-groEL, which can mediate the folding, assembly, transport, and degradation of new or misfolding proteins. ThegroE operon locates in 1 834 692-1 832 649 sites, including aσApromoter, inverted repeat sequence(CIRCE),groES,groEL and a terminator. It is highly conserved, and can be induced to express by stress environment including heat, acid, ethanol and hydrogen peroxide. Both HrcA-CIRCE system and CtsR play a negative regulation role, without a clear mechanism. Studies, about the structure and regulation mechanism ofS.mutans groE operon in a molecular level, help to further clarify the physiological process of cells, and lay the foundation for understanding the molecular mechanism of cells under stress and pathological conditions.
