title: Bacterial polysaccharide synthesis: an experiment for the dental biochemistry laboratory.
abstract: A simple experiment is described for demonstrating the formation of a high molecular-weight polysaccharide from sucrose by a bacterial enzyme. The polysaccharide confers high viscosity on solutions. Dental students are encouraged to consider this as a component of the system leading to the formation of dental plaque and the initiation of carious lesions.
mesh_terms: D001671:Biochemistry / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial