title: Molecular genetic analysis of the catalytic site of Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferases.
abstract: In the present communication molecular genetic approaches have been utilized to confirm the nature of the catalytic site of Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferases (GTF)s. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to convert the putative sucrose binding Asp-451 of the GTF-I enzyme from S. mutans GS5 to Glu, Asn, and Thr. All three of the resulting mutated enzymes displayed no detectable sucrase or GTF activities. By contrast, mutation of nearby Asp residues did not markedly reduce enzymatic activity. The inactive enzymes also appear to bind acceptor dextrans as well as the parental enzyme. These results confirm the essential role of Asp-451 of the GTF-I from strain GS5 and analogous Asp residues in other related GTFs in enzymatic activity.
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Kato
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Nakano
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lis
authors: H K
authors: HK
authors: Kuramitsu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010957:Plasmids; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013395:Sucrose; D005964:Glucosyltransferases