An anaerobic, gram-negative, dextranase-producing filamentous bacterium isolated from human dental plaque has been identified as a strain of Bacteroides ochraceus. The inducible intracellular dextran-degrading activities produced by this microorganism can be fractionated inta endohydrolytic and exohydrolytic enzymes with distinct pH optima. These enzymes reduce the apparent rate of glucan production from sucrose by the dextransucrase produced by Streptococcus mutans and consequently may influence the in vivo production of polysaccharides involved in plaque accumulation and metabolism.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
I. Staat, R.H.; Gawronski, T.H.; and Schachtele, C.F. : Detection and Preliminary Studies on Dextranase-Producing Microorganisms from Human Dental Plaque, Infect Immun8: 1009-1016, 1973.
2.
Gold, W.; Bleckman, H.; and Preston, F.B.: Dextran-Glucosidase Activity in Supragingival Plaque, J Dent Res52: 779-781, 1973.
3.
Gawronski, T.H. ; Staat, R.H.; Zaki , H.A.; Harris, R.S.; and Folke, L.E.: Effects of Dietary Sucrose Levels on the Extracellular Polysaccharide Metabolism of Human Dental Plaque, J Dent Res54: 881-890, 1975.
4.
Staat, R.H., and Schachtele, C.F. : Evaluation of Dextranase Production by the Cariogenic Bacterium Streptococcus mutans, Infec Immun9: 467-469, 1974.
5.
Ebisu, S. ; Misaki, A.; Kato , K.; and Kotani, S.: The Structure of Water-Insoluble Glucans of Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans, Formed in the Absence and Presence of Dextranase, Carbohydr Res38: 374-381, 1974.
6.
Dewar, M.D., and Walker, G.J.: Metabolism of the Polysaccharides of Human Dental Plaque: I. Dextranase Activity of Streptococci and the Extracellular Polysaccharides Synthesized from Sucrose , Caries Res9: 21 35, 1975.
7.
Guggenheim, B., and Burkhardt, H.H.: Isolation and Properties of a Dextranase from Streptococcus mutans OMZ176, Helv Odontol Acta18: 101-113, 1974.
8.
Schachtele, C.F.; Staat, R.H.; and Har-Lander , S.K.: Dextranase from Oral Bacteria : Inhibition of Water-Insoluble Glucan Production and Adherence to Smooth Surfaces by Streptococcus mutans, Infec Immun12: 309-317, 1975.
9.
Walker, G.J. , and Builder, J.E.: Metabolism of the Reserve Polysaccharide of Streptococcus mitis, Properties of a-1,6 Glucosidase, Biochem J105: 937-942, 1967.
10.
Walker, G.J. : Some Properties of a Dextranglucosidase Isolated from Streptococci and Its Use in Studies on Dextran Synthesis, J Dent Res51: 409-414, 1972.
11.
Staat, R.H. , and Schachtele, C.F.: Characterization of a Dextranase Produced by an Oral Strain of Actinomyces israelii, Infec Immun12:556-563, 1975.
12.
Dacosta, T. ; Bier, L.C.; and Gaida, F.: Dextran Hydrolysis by a Fusobacterium Strain from Human Dental Plaque, Arch Oral Biol19: 341-342, 1974.
13.
Holdeman, L.V. , and Moore, W.E.C.: Anaerobe Laboratory Manual , 2nd ed, Blacksburg, Va: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1973 , p 132.
14.
Chludzinski, A.M.; Germaine, G.R.; and Schachtele , C.F.: Purification and Properties of Dextransucrase from Streptococcus mutans, J Bacteriol118: 1-7, 1974.
15.
Lowery, O.H. ; Rosebrough, N.J.; Farr, A.L.; and Randall, R.J.: Protein Measurement with the Folin Phenol Reagent, J Biol Chem193: 265-275, 1951.
16.
Somogyi, M.: A New Reagent for the Determination of Sugars, J Biol Chem160 : 61-68, 1945.
17.
Nelson, N.: A Photometric Adaption of the Somogyi Method for the Determination of Glucose , J Biol Chem153: 375-380, 1944.
18.
Germaine, G.R. ; Schachtele, C.F.; and Chludziniki , A.M.: Rapid Filter Paper Assay for the Dextransucrase Activity from Streptococcus mutans , J Dent Res53: 1355-1360, 1974 .
19.
Thoma, J.A., and French, D.: Paper Chromatography of Homologous Saccharides, Selection of Solvent Components and Solvent Proportions, Anal Chem29: 1645-1648, 1957.
20.
Trevelyan, W.E.; Procher, D.O.; and Har-Rison , J.S.: Detection of Sugars on Paper Chromatograms, Nature ( Lond) 166 : 444-445, 1950.
21.
Buchanan, R.E., and Gibbons, N.E.: Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8th ed, Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Co., 1974, p 1268.
22.
Loesche, W.J. ; Socransky, S.S.; and Gibbons, R.J.: Bacteroides oralis, Proposed New Species Isolated from the Oral Cavity of Man, J Bacteriol88: 1329-1337, 1964.
23.
Moore, W.C. , and Holdeman, L.V.: New Names and Combinations in the Genera Bacteroides castellani and chalmers, Fuscobacterium knorr, Eubacterium privot, Propionibacterium delwich, and Lactobacillus orla-jensen, Intern J Syst Bacteriol23: 69-74, 1973.
24.
Hehre, E.J. , and Sery, T.W.: Dextran-Splitting Anaerobic Bacteria from the Human Intestine, J Bacteriol63: 424-426, 1952.
25.
Sawai, T.; Toriyami, K.; and Yano, K.: A Bacterial Dextranase Releasing only Isomaltose from Dextrans, J Biochem75: 105-112, 1974.
26.
Tsuchiya, H.M. ; Jeanes, A.; Bricker , H.M.; and Wilham, C.A.: Dextran-Degrading Enzymes from Molds, J Bacteriol64: 513-519, 1952.
27.
Hiraoka, N. ; Fukumoto, J.; and Tsuru, K.: Studies on Mold Dextranases: III. Purification and Some Enzymatic Properties of Asperigillus carneus Dextranase, J Biochem71: 57-64, 1972.
28.
Richards, G.N. , and Streamer, M.: Studies on Dextranases: i. Isolation of Extracellular , Bacterial Dextranases, Carbohydr Res25: 323-332, 1972.
29.
Sery, T.W., and Hehre, E.J.: Degradation of Dextran by Enzymes of Intestinal Bacteria, J Bacteriol71: 373-380, 1956.
30.
Dixon, M., and Webb, E.C. (eds) : Enzymes, New York: Academic Press, Inc., 1964, pp 345-346.
31.
Walker, G.J. , and Whelan, W.J.: The Mechanism of Carbohydrase Action: 8. Structures of the Muscle-Phosphorylase Limit Dextrins of Glycogen and Amylopectin , Biochem J76: 264-268, 1960.
32.
Greenwood, C.T. : Starch and Glycogen, in, Pigman, W., and Horton, D. (ed) The Carbohydrates, Chemistry and Biochemistry, IIB , 2nd ed, New York: Academic Press, Inc., 1970, pp 417-514.
33.
Gibbons, R.J. , and Banghart, S.B.: Synthesis of Extracellular Dextran by Cariogenic Bacteria and Its Presence in Human Dental Plaque, Arch Oral Biol12: 11-24, 1967.
34.
Gibbons, R.J. , and Fitzgerald, R.J.: Dextran-Induced Agglutination of Streptococcus mutans and Its Potential Role in the Formation of Microbial Dental Plaque , J Bacteriol98: 341-346, 1969.
35.
Gibbons, R.J. , and Nygaard, M.: Synthesis of Insoluble Dextran and Its Significance in the Formation of Gelatinous Deposits by Plaque-Forming Streptococci, Arch Oral Biol13: 1249-1262, 1968.
36.
Loesche, W.J. ; Rowan, J.; Straffon , L.H.; and Loos, P.J.: Association of Streptococcus mutans with Human Dental Decay, Infec Immun11: 1252-1260, 1975.
37.
Staat, R.; Swenson, J.; and Schachtele, C.: Unpublished data.
