Potential physiological functions of acceptor products of dextransucrase with cellobiose as an inhibitor of mutansucrase and fungal cell synthase.

A series of oligosaccharides (cellobio-oligosaccharides) ranging from degrees of polymer 3 to 6 were synthesized by Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512 FMCM in the presence of cellobiose. The major oligosaccharides were the trisaccharides, α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-D-glucopyranose and α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-D-glucopyranose. These cellobio-oligosaccharides were inhibitory on mutansucrase, an enzyme that causes dental caries. They were also found to be effective antifungal agents against Aspergillus terreus acting by inhibiting β-(1 → 3)-glucan synthase, which is required for fungal cell wall formation.