Factors Affecting Glycogen Storage in Oral Bacteria
It has been discovered that the primary species of bacteria involved in initiating approximately 95% of all dental caries lesions is Mutans streptococcus. These oral bacteria contain an enzyme called glucosyltransferase on the exterior of their cell membranes. This enzyme only uses sucrose, or table sugar, as its substrate. Sucrose stimulates the production of more glucosyltransferase units on the surface of Mutans streptococci bacteria. Therefore, if sucrose levels rise in the oral cavity, glucosyltransferase levels on Mutans streptococci are subsequently elevated. Glucosyltransferase enzyme is located on the exterior surface of the cell membrane of Mutans streptococci, leaving the enzyme capable of interacting with the external environment. In the oral cavity, whenever sucrose is available, the GTF enzymes on Mutans streptococci convert sucrose into glucose and fructose, yielding energy. The glucose monomers are linked via alpha 1,3 linkages into a glucan, a polysaccharide of only glucose molecules. The glucan molecules form an insoluble coat around the Mutans streptococci that seal the lactic acid produced by the bacteria against the surface of the tooth. With this polysaccharide glucan barrier formed, the buffering
Some topics in this essay:
Non-immunoglobulin NIA, , Lactic Acid, lactic acid, mutans streptococci, tooth surface, streptococcus mutans, lactic acid produced, acid produced, carious lesions, oral bacteria, oral cavity, dental caries, glycogen stores, surface mutans streptococci, gum hard candies, production lactic acid, intracellular glycogen stores,
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Approximate Word count = 1293
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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