Monoclonal antibodies to the extracellular glucosyltransferases from Streptococcus sobrinus 6715

Abstract

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against the glucosyltransferases (GTFs) of Streptococcus sobrinus 6715. The antibody panels included MAbs raised against the primer-independent, soluble product enzyme (GTF-Si) which did not cross-react with other GTFs, as well as MAbs raised against the primer-dependent, soluble product enzyme (GTF-Sd) which recognized both GTF-Si and GTF-Sd, thus indicating that these catalytically distinct enzymes share epitopes. MAbs raised against GTF-I recognized several forms of GTF-I and did not cross-react with the GTF-S enzymes. None of the MAbs recognized the major glucan-binding protein of S. sobrinus. Two MAbs inhibited glucan synthesis, one blocking primer synthesis by GTF-Si by 89% and the second inhibiting that by GTF-I by 92%.