Disruption of perR enhances growth of S. mutans in the presence of stresses. Growth of UA159 (perR+), UA-perR (perR SNP strain), the perR deletion mutant strain (UAΔperR), and complemented strain (UAΔperRComp). Strains were grown in BHI (A), BHI containing 0.4 mM H2O2 (B), BHI containing 0.2 μg ml−1 streptonigrin (C), BHI containing 0.8 mM diamide (D), or BHI adjusted to pH 5.5 (E). Data represent averages and standard deviations of results from four independent experiments.