Skip to main content
PMC home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1975 Oct;12(4):934–937. doi: 10.1128/iai.12.4.934-937.1975

Production of elevated levels of dextransucrase by a mutant of Streptococcus mutans.

C F Schachtele, G R Germaine, S K Harlander
PMCID: PMC415376  PMID: 1193721

Abstract

A mutant (S19) of Sreptococcus mutans strain 6715 which produces elevated levels of dextransucrase (EC 2.4.1.5) was isolated. Soluble enzyme in culture supernatant solutions from S19 polymerized the glucosyl moiety of sucrose into alcohol-insoluble and water-insoluble glucans at a rate three to six times greater than that of the parent strain. Washed-cell suspensions of S19 also contained increased amounts of cell-associated enzyme. Adherence of S19 to glass in the presence of sucrose occurred at twice the rate of strain 6715. The Km values for sucrose and primer dextran were similar for the mutant and parent enzymes. Mutant S19 should facilitate studies on the mechanism of adherence of S. Mutans and the control of dextransucrase production by this bacterium.

Full text

PDF
934

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Carlsson J., Elander B. Regulation of dextransucrase formation by Streptococcus sanguis. Caries Res. 1973;7(2):89–101. doi: 10.1159/000259834. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Chludzinski A. M., Germaine G. R., Schachtele C. F. Purification and properties of dextransucrase from Streptococcus mutans. J Bacteriol. 1974 Apr;118(1):1–7. doi: 10.1128/jb.118.1.1-7.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Freedman M. L., Tanzer J. M. Dissociation of plaque formation from glucan-induced agglutination in mutants of Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun. 1974 Jul;10(1):189–196. doi: 10.1128/iai.10.1.189-196.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Germaine G. R., Chludzinski A. M., Schachtele C. F. Streptococcus mutans dextransucrase: requirement for primer dextran. J Bacteriol. 1974 Oct;120(1):287–294. doi: 10.1128/jb.120.1.287-294.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Germaine G. R., Schachtele C. F., Chludzinski A. M. Rapid filter paper assay for the dextransucrase activity from Streptococcus mutans. J Dent Res. 1974 Nov-Dec;53(6):1355–1360. doi: 10.1177/00220345740530061101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gibbons R. J., Banghart S. B. Synthesis of extracellular dextran by cariogenic bacteria and its presence in human dental plaque. Arch Oral Biol. 1967 Jan;12(1):11–23. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(67)90137-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gibbons R. J., Fitzgerald R. J. Dextran-induced agglutination of Streptococcus mutans, and its potential role in the formation of microbial dental plaques. J Bacteriol. 1969 May;98(2):341–346. doi: 10.1128/jb.98.2.341-346.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gibbons R. J., Keyes P. H. Inhibition of insoluble dextran synthesis, plaque formation and dental caries in hamsters by low molecular weight dextran. Arch Oral Biol. 1969 Jun;14(6):721–724. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(69)90193-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gibbons R. J., Nygaard M. Synthesis of insoluble dextran and its significance in the formation of gelatinous deposits by plaque-forming streptococci. Arch Oral Biol. 1968 Oct;13(10):1249–1262. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(68)90081-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Guggenheim B. Enzymatic hydrolysis and structure of water-insoluble glucan produced by glucosyltransferases from a strain of streptococcus mutans. Helv Odontol Acta. 1970 Nov;14(Suppl):89+–89+. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Guggenheim B., Newbrun E. Extracellular glucosyltransferase activity of an HS strain of Streptococcus mutans. Helv Odontol Acta. 1969 Oct;13(2):84–97. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Guggenheim B., Schroeder H. E. Biochemical and morphological aspects of extracellular polysaccharides produced by cariogenic streptococci. Helv Odontol Acta. 1967 Oct;11(2):131–152. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Johnson M. C., Bozzola J. J., Shechmeister I. L. Morphological study of Streptococcus mutans and two extracellular polysaccharide mutants. J Bacteriol. 1974 Apr;118(1):304–311. doi: 10.1128/jb.118.1.304-311.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kuramitsu H. K. Characterization of cell-associated dextransucrase activity from glucose-grown cells of Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun. 1974 Jul;10(1):227–235. doi: 10.1128/iai.10.1.227-235.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. LOWRY O. H., ROSEBROUGH N. J., FARR A. L., RANDALL R. J. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951 Nov;193(1):265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. McCabe M. M., Smith E. E. Origin of the cell-associated dextransucrase of Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun. 1973 Jun;7(6):829–838. doi: 10.1128/iai.7.6.829-838.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Mukasa H., 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 Immun. 1973 Oct;8(4):555–562. doi: 10.1128/iai.8.4.555-562.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Nalbandian J., Freedman M. L., Tanzer J. M., Lovelace S. M. Ultrastructure of Mutants of Streptococcus mutans with Reference to Agglutination, Adhesion, and Extracellular Polysaccharide. Infect Immun. 1974 Nov;10(5):1170–1179. doi: 10.1128/iai.10.5.1170-1179.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Schachtele C. F., Loken A. E., Knudson D. J. Preferential utilization of the glucosyl moiety of sucrose by a cariogenic strain of Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun. 1972 Apr;5(4):531–536. doi: 10.1128/iai.5.4.531-536.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Schachtele C. F., Staat R. H., Harlander S. K. Dextranases from oral bacteria: inhibition of water-insoluble glucan production and adherence to smooth surfaces by Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun. 1975 Aug;12(2):309–317. doi: 10.1128/iai.12.2.309-317.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Tanzer J. M., Freedman M. L., Fitzgerald R. J., Larson R. H. Diminished virulence of glucan synthesis-defective mutants of Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun. 1974 Jul;10(1):197–203. doi: 10.1128/iai.10.1.197-203.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. de Stoppelaar J. D., König K. G., Plasschaert A. J., van der Hoeven J. S. Decreased cariogenicity of a mutant of Streptococcus mutans. Arch Oral Biol. 1971 Aug;16(8):971–975. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(71)90186-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES