Mechanism of glucan-induced agglutination in Streptococcus mutans. I. Binding of radioactive glucan to whole cells of S. mutans OMZ-176.

The binding of radioactive glucan to Streptococcus mutans cells, which are agglutinated by dextrans, was examined. The glucan was synthesized from sucrose by extracellular glucosyltransferases from S. mutans FA-1 and was highly branched at C-3 and C-6 of D-glucose residues, containing 17% of a (1 leads to 3)inter-chain residues.

Activation of the alternative complement pathway by water-insoluble glucans of streptococcus mutans: the relation between their chemical structures and activating potencies.

Water insoluble, sticky glucan was synthesized by reacting glucosyltransferase obtained from the sulture filtrate of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans OMZ 176 on sucrose. This glucan (OMZ 176 glucan), that consisted of the backbone chains of consecutive alpha-1, 3 glucosidic linkages (65%) and the side chain of alpha-1, 6 glucosidic bonds (35%), showed an ability to activate the alternative pathway of the complment system in human serum. Water soluble glucans synthesized from the reaction of glycosyltransferases of S.

Isolation and purification of Flavobacterium alpha-1,3-glucanase-hydrolyzing, insoluble, sticky glucan of Streptococcus mutans.

Studies were made on the physical and chemical properties of polysaccharides synthesized by cell-free extracts of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, and Streptococcus sp. and their susceptibilities to dextranases. Among the polysaccharides examined, insoluble glucans were rather resistant to available dextranase preparations, and the insoluble, sticky glucan produced by S.

Structural differences in fructans elaborated by streptococcus mutans and Strep. salivarius.

D-Fructans synthesized from sucrose by cell-free systems of strains of Streptococcus mutans and Strep. salivarius have been shown by methylation and enzymatic studies to have different glycosidic linkages. The cold water-insoluble D-fructans from Strep.