Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium commonly found in the human oral cavity, is considered the primary causative agent of dental caries. A key player in the pathophysiology of S. mutans is SloR, a 25-kDa metalloregulatory protein. SloR plays a crucial role in coordinating the uptake of essential metal ions, particularly manganese, with the transcription of the bacterium's virulence genes. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the enhanced binding affinity of SloR to DNA upon Mn