S. Kubo et al., EXPRESSION AND SECRETION OF AN ARTHROBACTER DEXTRANASE IN THE ORAL BACTERIUM STREPTOCOCCUS-GORDONII, Infection and immunity, 61(10), 1993, pp. 4375-4381
We have constructed a plasmid to express and secrete dextranase in the
oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii. The dextranase gene from Arthr
obacter sp. strain CB-8 was linked to a promoter and a DNA sequence en
coding the signal peptide of Streptococcus downei glucosyltransferase
I (gtfI) followed by the Escherichia coli rrnBt1t2 terminator and inse
rted in the shuttle vector pVA838. S. gordonii transformed with this p
lasmid (pMNK-4) expressed and secreted mature Arthrobacter dextranase.
The transformant was found to repress the firm adherence of water-ins
oluble glucan in a coculture experiment with cariogenic bacteria, Stre
ptococcus sobrinus, in the presence of sucrose. Such genetically engin
eered oral bacteria could provide a therapy to prevent dental caries.