Purification and characterization of cell-associated glucosyltransferase synthesizing insoluble glucan from Streptococcus mutans serotype c.

Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt (serotype c) was shown to have a significant amount of cell-associated glucosyltransferase activity which synthesizes water-insoluble glucan from sucrose. The enzyme was extracted from the washed cells with SDS, renatured with Triton X-100, adsorbed to 1,3-alpha-D-glucan gel, and then eluted with SDS. The enzyme preparation was electrophoretically homogeneous, and the specific activity was 7.3 i.u. (mg protein)-1. The enzyme had an Mr of 158,000 as determined by SDS-PAGE, and was a strongly hydrophilic protein, as judged by its amino acid composition. The enzyme gradually aggregated in the absence of SDS. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 6.5 and a Km value of 16.3 mm for sucrose. Activity was stimulated 1.7-fold by dextran T10, but was not stimulated by high concentrations of ammonium sulphate. Below a sodium phosphate buffer concentration of 50 mm, activity was reduced by 75%. This enzyme synthesized an insoluble D-glucan consisting of 76 mol% 1,3-alpha-linked glucose and 24 mol% 1,6-alpha-linked glucose.