Metabolism of the polysaccharides of human dental plaque. Part II. Purification and properties of Cladosporium resinae (1 leads to 3)-alpha-D-glucanase, and the enzymic hydrolysis of glucans synthesised by extracellular D-glucosyltransferases of oral streptococci. 1977

G J Walker, and M D Hare

Cladosporium resinae (1 leads to 3)-alpha-D-glucanase has been characterized as an endoglucanase capable of completely hydrolysing insoluble (1 leads to 3)-alpha-D-glucans isolated from fungal cell-walls. D-Glucose was the major product, but a small amount of nigerose was also produced. The enzyme was specific for the hydrolysis of (1 leads to 3) bonds that occur in sequence, and nigerotetraose was the smallest substrate that was rapidly attacked. Isolated (1 leads to 3)-alpha-D-glucosidic linkages that occur in mycodextran, isolichein, dextrans, and oligosaccharides derived from dextran were not hydrolysed. Insoluble glucan synthesised from sucrose by culture filtrates of Streptococcus spp. were all hydrolysed to various limits; the range was 11-61%. A soluble glucan, synthesised by an extracellular D-glucosyltransferase of S. mutans OMZ176, was not a substrate, whereas insoluble glucans synthesised by a different D-glucosyltransferase, isolated from S. mutans strains OMZ176 and K1-R, were extensively hydrolysed (84 and 92%, respectively). It is suggested that dextranase-CB, a bacterial endo(1 leads to 6)-alpha-D-glucanase that does not release D-glucose from any substrate, could be used together with C. resinae (1 leads to 3)-alpha-D-glucanase to determine the relative proportions of (1 leads to 6)-linked to (1 leads to 3)-linked sequences of D-glucose residues in the insoluble glucans produce by oral streptococci. The simultaneous action of the two D-glucanoses was highly effective in solubilizing the glucans.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007700 Kinetics The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D011134 Polysaccharides Long chain polymeric CARBOHYDRATES composed of MONOSACCHARIDES linked by glycosidic bonds. Glycan,Glycans,Polysaccharide
D011135 Polysaccharides, Bacterial Polysaccharides found in bacteria and in capsules thereof. Bacterial Polysaccharides
D002963 Cladosporium A mitosporic Loculoascomycetes fungal genus including some economically important plant parasites. Teleomorphs include Mycosphaerella and Venturia. Cladosporiums
D003773 Dental Plaque A film that attaches to teeth, often causing DENTAL CARIES and GINGIVITIS. It is composed of MUCINS, secreted from salivary glands, and microorganisms. Plaque, Dental
D003904 Mitosporic Fungi A large and heterogenous group of fungi whose common characteristic is the absence of a sexual state. Many of the pathogenic fungi in humans belong to this group. Deuteromycetes,Deuteromycota,Fungi imperfecti,Fungi, Mitosporic,Hyphomycetes,Deuteromycete,Deuteromycotas,Fungi imperfectus,Fungus, Mitosporic,Hyphomycete,Mitosporic Fungus,imperfectus, Fungi
D005947 Glucose A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement. Dextrose,Anhydrous Dextrose,D-Glucose,Glucose Monohydrate,Glucose, (DL)-Isomer,Glucose, (alpha-D)-Isomer,Glucose, (beta-D)-Isomer,D Glucose,Dextrose, Anhydrous,Monohydrate, Glucose
D005959 Glucosidases Enzymes that hydrolyze O-glucosyl-compounds. (Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 3.2.1.-. Glucosidase
D005964 Glucosyltransferases Enzymes that catalyze the transfer of glucose from a nucleoside diphosphate glucose to an acceptor molecule which is frequently another carbohydrate. EC 2.4.1.-. Glucosyltransferase
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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