Mechanism of inhibition of glycolysis in Streptococcus mutans NCIB 11723 by chlorhexidine

Inhibition of the rate of acid production from glucose by the cells of Streptococcus mutans was directly related to the concentrations of 0.075 to 0.20 mM chlorhexidine. Lactate production was inhibited to a greater extent than acetate and formate. Quantification of glycolytic intermediates revealed that the steps in glycolysis inhibited by chlorhexidine were the reactions catalyzed by phosphofructokinase and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and/or phosphoglycerate kinase. However, the activities of these enzymes were not decreased in cells treated with the inhibitor. It was demonstrated that chlorhexidine caused leakage of metabolites from the cells. Our results indicate that the decreased rate of glycolysis caused by chlorhexidine is due to the leakage of metabolic intermediates and not to direct effects on enzymes involved in glycolysis by S. mutans NCIB 11723.