Properties of mutacin b, an antibacterial substance produced by Streptococcus mutans strain BHT.
An antibacterial substance produced by strain BHT of Streptococcus mutans (mutacin b) was found to be a small molecule (MW 3,500-6,000) with remarkable resistance to temperature, alkali and various solvents. Enzyme sensitivity tests of partially purified preparations indicated that mutacin b is a peptide. It is sensitive to several proteolytic enzymes and its lethal effects on sensitive cells can be prevented by adding trypsin to cells exposed to mutacin b. High concentrations of mutacin b inhibited the growth of producer cells, indicating that strain BHT is only partially immune to this substance.
D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004798:Enzymes / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects
D001430:Bacteriocins; D004798:Enzymes; C025554:mutacin GS-5