Adenosine 5′-Triphosphate Content of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 during Fluoride-Mediated Death at Low pH

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) content and viability of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 were studied in a lactate-acetate buffer at pH 6.5, 5.0 and 4.0 with or without added NaF. Reductions in cellular ATP occurred at all pH values tested, but were most pronounced at pH 4.0 and 5.0 with added fluoride and at pH 4.0 alone. Fluoride at pH 4.0 resulted in the lowest ATP content and was strongly bactericidal, while under all other conditions, no or very delayed cell death was observed. Our findings support the idea that fluoride-mediated transmembrane proton conduction is an important mechanism in the antimicrobial activity of fluoride and that this activity at low pH may be involved in the cariostatic action of fluoride.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: