Effect of a glucosyltransferase inhibitor on glucan synthesis and cellular adherence of Streptococcus mutans

The effects of mutastein, a glucosyltransferase inhibitor derived from an Aspergillus terreus strain, on the glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans and sucrose-dependent adherence of S. mutans cells were examined in vitro. The synthesis of insoluble glucan by crude glucosyltransferase of S. mutans strain B13 was markedly inhibited by mutastein at a final concentration of 10 micrograms of protein/ml. The synthesis of insoluble glucan adherent to glass surfaces was almost completely inhibited by mutastein at this concentration. In addition, mutastein inhibited the sucrose-dependent adherence to glass surfaces of resting and growing cells of various S. mutans strains. These results suggest that mutastein could be useful for controlling dental plaque and dental caries in vivo.