Tween 80 effect on glucosyltransferase synthesis by Streptococcus salivarius

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Abstract
S. salivarius (ATCC 25975) produced very low or nondetectable amounts of the extracellular enzyme glucosyltransferase (GTase) when grown in a chemically defined medium. The addition of Tween 80 to this medium resulted in the production of markedly enhanced levels of the enzyme. Oleic acid, the methyl ester of oleic acid, and sucrose each could not substitute for Tween 80 in this regard. The surfactant had no direct activating effect on preformed enzyme cells suspended in defined medium during a time when no measurable growth occurred. Under these conditions, the stimulatory effect of Tween 80 was blocked by chloramphenicol. The surfactant dramatically stimulated the differential rate of GTase synthesis. These and other data strongly suggest that Tween 80 stimulates the production of extracellular GTase by acting directly or indirectly at the level of enzyme synthesis.