| abstract |
Enzymes called cariogenanases, elaborated by microorganisms are isolated and characterized as polysaccharases capable of degrading cariogenan, a newly discovered glucan of dental plaque composed of alpha -(1->3) and alpha -(1->2) linkages. The enzymes are isolable from culture broths of various organisms by protein precipitation methods, and have utility as an anti-dental plaque agent, either as the sole enzymatic agent or in combination with dextranases and/or plaque dispersing proteases. |