The extracellular glucosyltransferase (GTF) enzymes of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 and avirulent mutant GS-511 were fractionated using agarose and DEAE-cellulose columns. GTF of GS-5 produced both water-soluble and -insoluble glucans, while those of GS-511 made soluble products almost exclusively. Nearly all (98%) of the small amount of insoluble GTF enzyme made by GS-511 was bound to the cell wall.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Montville, T.J. ; Cooney, C.L.; and Sinskey, A.J.: Streptococcus mutans Dextransucrase : A Review, Adv Appl Microbiol24:55-84, 1978.
2.
Tanzer, J.M. ; Freedman, M.L.; Fitzgerald , R.J.; and Lawson, R.H.: Diminished Virulence of Glucan Synthesis-defective Mutants of Streptococcus mutans Infect Immun10: 197-203, 1974.
3.
Johnson, M.C. ; Bozzola, J.J.; Shechmeister , I.L.; and Shklair, I.L.: Biochemical Study of the Relationship of Extracellular Glucan to Adherence and Cariogenicity in Streptococcus mutans and an Extracellular Polysaccharide Mutant, J Bacteriol129 :351-357, 1977.
4.
Johnson, M.C. ; Bozzola, J.J.; and Shechmeister , I.L.: Morphological Study of Streptococcus mutans and Two Extracellular Polysaccharide Mutants , J Bacteriol118:304-311,1974.
5.
Bozzola, J.J. ; Johnson, M.C.; and Shechmeister , I.L.: Ultrastructural Localization of Sucrases in Streptococcus mutans GS-5 and an Extracellular Polysaccharide Mutant: A Comparative Cytochemical and Immunocytochemical Study , Infect Immun17:447-457, 1977.
6.
Mukasa, H. and Slade, H.D.: Mechanisms of the Adherence of Streptococcus mutans to Smooth Surfaces. III. Purification and Properties of the Enzyme Complex Responsible for Adherence , Infect Immun10:1135-1145, 1974 .
7.
Hehre, E.J.: Polysaccharide Synthesis from Disaccharides, Methods Enzymol1:179-184, 1955.
8.
Mukasa, H. and Slade, H.D.: Mechanism of Adherence of Streptococcus mutans to Smooth Surfaces. I. Roles of Insoluble Dextran-Levan Synthetase Enzymes and Cell Wall Polysaccharide Antigen in Plaque Formation, Infect Immun8:555-562, 1973.
9.
Fukui, K.; Fukui, Y.; and Moriyama, T.: Purification and Properties of Dextransucrase and Invertase from Streptococcus mutans, J Bacteriol118:796-804, 1974.
10.
Kuramitsu, H.K. : Characterization of Extracellular Glucosyltransferase Activity of Streptococcus mutans, Infect Immun12: 738-749, 1975.
11.
Schachtele, C.F. ; Germaine, G.R.; and Harlander , S.K.: Production of Elevated Levels of Dextransucrase by a Mutant of Streptococcus mutans, Infect Immun12: 934-937, 1975.
12.
Lowry, 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.
13.
Dubois, M.; Gilles, K.A.; Hamilton, J.K.; Rebers, P.A.; and Smith, F.: Colorimetric Method for the Determination of Sugars and Related Substances , Anal Chem28:350-356,1956.
14.
Kuramitsu, H.K.: Properties of a Mutant of Streptococcus mutans Altered in Glucosyltransferase Activity, Infect Immun13 :345-353, 1976.
15.
Gibbons, R.J. and Fitzgerald, R.J.: Dextran-induced Agglutination of Streptococcus mutans and Its Potential Role in the Formation of Microbial Dental Plaques , J Bact98:341-346, 1969.
16.
Germaine, G.R. : CHLUDZINSKI, A.M.; and SCHACHTELE, C.F.: Streptococcus mutans Dextransucrase: Requirement for Primer Dextran, J Bact120:289-294, 1974.
17.
Russell, R.B. : Glucan-binding Proteins of Streptococcus mutans Serotype C, J Gen Micro112:197-201, 1979.
18.
Montville, T.J.; Cooney, C.L.; and Sinskey, A.J.: Measurement of Synthesis of Insoluble and Soluble Dextran by Streptococcus mutans, J Dent Res56:983-989, 1977.