ADHESION DEGRADATION - A POSSIBLE FUNCTION FOR A PREVOTELLA-LOESCHEIIPROTEASE

Prevotella loescheii PK1295 produces at least 3 proteases that are sep arable by isoelectric focusing. One of these proteases, an enzyme with an isoelectric point at 8.5 and an M(r) of 36,000, hydrolyzes the fim bria-associated adhesin on P loescheii responsible for coaggregation w ith Streptococcus oralis 34, as well as gelatin, casein and fibrin. Th e action of this protease may contribute to the detachment of P. loesc heii from its streptococcal coaggregation partner and provide a mechan ism for bacterial relocation in dental plaque.