Glucosyltransferase B (GtfB) and Glucosyltransferase C (GtfC) of Streptococcus mutans (GtfB and GtfC)

Glucosyltransferase B (GtfB) and Glucosyltransferase C (GtfC) are key extracellular enzymes produced by the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of dental caries. These enzymes utilize dietary sucrose to synthesize glucan polymers, which form the structural scaffold of the dental biofilm (plaque). GtfB primarily synthesizes water-insoluble glucans (alpha-1,3-linkages) that promote bacterial aggregation and cohesion, while GtfC produces a mixture of soluble and insoluble glucans and is critical for initial adherence to the tooth surface. Because these enzymes are essential for the formation of cariogenic biofilms but are not required for bacterial survival, they are considered ideal targets for anti-virulence therapies that aim to prevent tooth decay without exerting the selective pressure of traditional antibiotics. Various natural polyphenols and synthetic small molecules have been identified as inhibitors that can disrupt biofilm formation by blocking the catalytic activity of these enzymes or downregulating their genetic expression.

Other names

GtfBGtfCGTF-IGTF-SIGlucosyltransferase-IGlucosyltransferase-SIStreptococcus mutans glucosyltransferases

Inhibition of enzymatic activity by binding to the catalytic site (competitive inhibition) or the glucan-binding domains (non-competitive inhibition), or downregulation of gene expression via the VicRK two-component system (Bowen and Koo, 2011; Ren et al., 2015).