Uptake and metabolism of N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine by Streptococcus mutans.

1 1 2 Uptake and Metabolism of N - Acetylglucosamine and 3 Glucosamine by Streptococcus Mutans

Binding of a Streptococcus mutans cationic protein to kidney in vitro.

An 8-kDa protein, with binding activity for heparin and heparan sulfate of basal laminae of animal tissues, was isolated from Streptococcus mutans MT703 and purified to homogeneity. Binding of radioiodinated 8-kDa protein to rabbit kidney tissue in vitro showed a high degree of specificity, as indicated by saturation kinetics, time dependence, and competitive inhibition by unlabeled protein. Bi...

Overlapping substrate speci¢city for sucroseandmaltose of twobinding protein-dependent sugar uptake systems in Streptococcusmutans

Sugar metabolism by Streptococcus mutans is associated with tooth decay. The most abundant sugars in the human diet are sucrose and maltose, a derivative of starch. Previously, we reported a binding protein-dependent transport system (msm) in S. mutans that transports sucrose and maltose, but its associated enzymes do not metabolize maltose. By searching the S. mutans genomic sequence for a mal...

Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans by the antibiotic streptozotocin: mechanisms of uptake and the selection of carbohydrate-negative mutants.

The antibiotic streptozotocin [2-deoxy-2-(3-methyl-3-nitrosoureido)-D-glucopyranoside], an analog of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), has been shown to be useful for the selection of carbohydrate-negative and auxotrophic bacterial mutants. We have adapted this method for use with the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans, a gram-positive, aerotolerant anaerobe that uses predominantly carbohydrates as ca...

Promotion of Streptococcus mutans glucose transport by human whole saliva and parotid fluid.

Human saliva and parotid fluid have two effects on glucose uptake by Streptococcus mutans: a reduction in the overall rate of uptake, and the promotion of a biphasic mode of uptake. The former effect had been previously shown to result from lactoperoxidase-mediated inhibition of transport or metabolism or both. The objective of the present study was to uncover the basis of the second effect. Bi...