Kinetics of dextran-independent α-(1→3)-glucan synthesis by Streptococcus sobrinus glucosyltransferase I.

Glucosyltransferase (GTF)-I from cariogenic Streptococcus sobrinus elongates the α-(1→3)-linked glucose polymer branches on the primer dextran bound to the C-terminal glucan-binding domain. We investigated the GTF-I-catalyzed glucan synthesis reaction in the absence of the primer dextran. The time course of saccharide production during dextran-independent glucan synthesis from sucrose was analyzed. Fructose and glucose were first produced by the sucrose hydrolysis. Leucrose was subsequently produced, followed by insoluble glucan [α-(1→3)-linked glucose polymers] after a lag phase. High levels of intermediate nigerooligosaccharide series accumulation were characteristically not observed during the lag phase. The results from the enzymatic activity of the acceptor reaction for the nigerooligosaccharide with a degree of polymerization of 2-6 and methyl α-D-glucopyranoside as a glucose analog indicate that the activity increased with an increase in the degree of polymerization. The production of insoluble glucan was numerically simulated using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method with the kinetic parameters estimated from the enzyme assay. The simulated time course provided a profile similar to that of experimental data. These results define the relationship between the kinetic properties of GTF-I and the time course of saccharide production. These results are discussed with respect to a mechanism that underlies efficient glucan synthesis.