It has been discovered that the primary species of bacteria involved in initiating approximately 95% of all dental caries lesions is Mutans streptococcus. These oral bacteria contain an enzyme called glucosyltransferase on the exterior of their cell membranes. This enzyme only uses sucrose, or table sugar, as its substrate. Sucrose stimulates the production of more glucosyltransferase units on the surface of Mutans streptococci bacteria. Therefore, if sucrose levels rise in the oral cavity, glucosyltransferase levels on Mutans streptococci are subsequently elevated.
Glucosyltransferase enzyme is located on the exterior surface of the cell membrane of Mutans streptococci, leaving the enzyme capable of interacting with the exter
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