title: Effect of carbohydrate fatty acid esters on Streptococcus sobrinus and glucosyltransferase activity.
abstract: Mutans streptococci are oral bacteria with a key role in the initiation of dental caries, because their glucosyltransferases synthesize polysaccharides from sucrose that allow them to colonize the tooth surface. Among the strategies to prevent dental caries that are being investigated are (1) the inhibition of bacterial growth of mutans streptococci or (2) the inhibition of glucosyltransferases involved in polysaccharide formation. Pure fatty acid esters of sucrose, maltose and maltotriose were synthesized by an enzyme-catalyzed process and tested as inhibitors of two glucosyltransferases of great homology, those from Streptococcus sobrinus and Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F. In spite of having their nonreducing end glucose blocked at 6-OH, they did not inhibit dextran synthesis. However, their effect on the growth of S. sobrinus in the solid and liquid phase was notable. 6-O-Lauroylsucrose, 6'-O-lauroylmaltose and 6"-O-lauroylmaltotriose at 100 microg/mL showed complete inhibition of S. sobrinus in agar plates. Consequently, these nontoxic derivatives are very promising for inclusion in oral-hygiene products aimed at disrupting plaque formation and preventing caries.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, 925 W 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, USA.
authors.forename: Kumari S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Devulapalle
authors.forename: Aranzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez de Segura
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alcalde
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mooser
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Plou
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002455:Cell Division; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004952:Esters / Q000737:chemistry; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry*; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007934:Leuconostoc / Q000378:metabolism; D008320:Maltose / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000737:chemistry; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D004952:Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014312:Trisaccharides; D013395:Sucrose; C008317:maltotriose; D008320:Maltose; D000362:Agar; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C020025:dextransucrase