A charged component in purified polysaccharide preparations from Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis

Purified preparations of soluble and insoluble polysaccarides produced in the presence of 5 per cent sucrose by two strains of Streptococcus mutans (OMZ 176 and OMZ 523) and one strain of Streptococcus sanguis (ATCC 10558) contained a negatively charged component. Tracer experiments showed that bound phosphate was present.If bound phosphate is present in dental plaque, it could act as an ion exchanger and influence the flow of ions to and from the tooth surface. Negatively charged polysaccharides may also be of consequence for the stickiness of plaque and its interaction with tooth surfaces.