Journal of Dental Research, Vol 65, 452-455, Copyright © 1986 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Effects of certain salts on glucosyltransferase synthesis by Streptococcus mutans strain PS-14
K. Takada and K. Fukushima
We investigated the effects of various salts on the synthesis of
extracellular glucosyltransferase in a partially defined medium (M4) by
Streptococcus mutans strain PS-14 and by certain other selected strains.
The levels of glucosyltransferase produced by S. mutans strain PS-14 were
found to increase to a maximum of seven-fold with increasing (NH4)2SO4
concentrations. However, at a 2% concentration of the salt, the level was
stimulated 2.5-fold, and the growth was inhibited by 75%. A 1%
concentration of MgSO4 or NaCl also caused an increase of
glucosyltransferase of six-fold or 2.4-fold, respectively. However, for S.
mutans strain B-13N, the enzyme production was not stimulated by (NH4)2SO4,
MgSO4, or NaCl. Moreover, the enzyme production by serotypes c, e, and f
was found to be stimulated by 1% (NH4)2SO4, whereas the enzyme production
by serotypes d and g was not affected.
