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Inhibition of Glucan Synthesis by Flavipin-crosslinked Casein Polymers

Osamu Hayashida1, Yamaji Nakano1, Keiji Hasumi1

  • 1a Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Agriculture , Tokyo Noko University , Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183 , Japan.

Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry
|September 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

A novel casein polymer, mutastein, inhibits Streptococcus sobrinus glucan synthesis. Aspergillus terreus produces flavipin, which polymerizes alpha-casein, creating similar glucan synthesis inhibitors.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Biochemistry
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Streptococcus sobrinus synthesizes insoluble glucans, contributing to dental caries.
  • Mutastein, a casein polymer, is known to inhibit this process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the production of mutastein by Aspergillus terreus.
  • To identify compounds from A. terreus that can polymerize casein and inhibit glucan synthesis.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing Aspergillus terreus in a medium containing alpha-casein.
  • Isolating flavipin (3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyl-o-phthalaldehyde) from A. terreus cultures.
  • Testing the activity of casein polymerization products against Streptococcus sobrinus.

Main Results:

  • Aspergillus terreus produced mutastein when grown with alpha-casein.
  • Flavipin isolated from A. terreus induced the polymerization of alpha-casein.
  • The resulting casein polymers effectively inhibited insoluble glucan synthesis by S. sobrinus.

Conclusions:

  • Flavipin from Aspergillus terreus is a key factor in producing casein polymers that inhibit Streptococcus sobrinus.
  • This discovery offers a potential new avenue for developing agents to combat dental caries.
Keywords:
caseinflavipinglucan synthesismutastein

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