Acceleration of dextransucrase activity of Streptococcus mutans by secretory immunoglobulin A.

The effect of immunoglobulins on the activity of dextransucrase purified from Streptococcus mutans strain HS-6 is described. When human salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) or colostral IgA, either natured or denatured, was incubated with dextransucrase, the rate of the dextran synthesis was markedly accelerated, whereas human serum IgA or IgG neither accelerated nor inhibited the enzyme activity. The results suggest that a portion unique for secretory IgA, the secretory component, might be related to the enzyme acceleration. On the other hand, specific rabbit antiserum against the dextransucrase inhibited completely dextran synthesis by the enzyme.