Analysis of the Dextranase Activity Produced by an Oral Strain of Bacteroides ochraceus

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Abstract
An anaerobic, gram-negative, dextranase-producing filamentous bacterium isolated from human dental plaque has been identified as a strain of Bacteroides ochraceus. The inducible intracellular dextran-degrading activities produced by this microorganism can be fractionated inta endohydrolytic and exohydrolytic enzymes with distinct pH optima. These enzymes reduce the apparent rate of glucan production from sucrose by the dextransucrase produced by Streptococcus mutans and consequently may influence the in vivo production of polysaccharides involved in plaque accumulation and metabolism.