We have extensively modified the published method for the lysis of gram-positive bacteria to isolate chromosomal DNA from only 1 ml of oral streptococcal overnight culture. Cells were incubated with lysozyme and R Nase A in the presence of polyethylene glycol. After centrifugation, cells were lysed with sodium dodecyl sulfate and proteinase K. Following ethanol precipitation, sodium dodecyl sulfate solution was added to the residue, and the pellet was completely dispersed by incubating at 65 degrees C. The chromosome was purified by extraction over phenol and chloroform. Two regions corresponding to the ribosomal RNA (rrn) operon and the glucosyltransferase gene were amplified using the chromosome from Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genetic heterogeneity was assessed by restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The PCR-RFLP analysis readily allowed us to subtype each strain, suggesting that the strategy presented here will provide a useful tool to verify epidemiological studies at the molecular level.

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A 1,3-alpha-glucan synthase (GTF-I), a highly branched 1, 6-alpha-glucan synthase (GTF-U) and a 1,6-alpha-glucan synthase (GTF-T) were purified to near homogeneity from the culture fluid of Streptococcus sobrinus strain B13N (serotype d) and characterized. In addition, a crude preparation of a recombinant oligo-isomaltosaccharide synthase (rGTF-S) was prepared from a cell-free extract of Escherichia coli MD124 transformant. Using four homogeneous GTF preparations including previously purified rGTF-S as antigens for immunization, 11 murine hybridomas producing a monoclonal antibody (MAb) were established through the fusion of myeloma cells (P3X63-Ag8-U1) and spleen cells of immunized BALB/c mice. When the immunoreactivities of the resultant MAbs were tested, all five MAbs raised against GTF-I, all three MAbs raised against GTF-T, and two of three MAbs raised against GTF-U reacted specifically with the homologous enzyme alone, while one MAb (B86) raised against GTF-U cross-reacted strongly with all GTFs. Although no MAb monospecific for rGTF-S was obtained, precise recognition of GTF-S was possible using the nonspecific B86 antibody together with the MAbs monospecific for the three glucan synthases. Thus, a set of four typical MAbs (B17, B76, B19 and B86) were successfully used for the identification of gene products expressed in 24 previously constructed E. coli phage clones, and the findings suggested that six phage clones might express a gtfU gene encoding GTF-U which has not been hitherto isolated.