Inhibition by acarbose, nojirimycin and 1-deoxynojirimycin of glucosyltransferase produced by oral streptococci.

Acarbose is known to inhibit glucoamylase, maltase and sucrase. Our aim was to test whether it would also inhibit glucosyltransferase (GTF), to determine the type of inhibition and to compare the inhibitor potency of acarbose with that of nojirimycin and deoxynojirimycin, two other glucosidase inhibitors. Enzyme inhibition was measured either by chemical assay or by incorporation of radioactivity into product. Acarbose effectively inhibited the synthesis of polysaccharide by GTF from strains of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis, but not by fructosyltransferase from Streptococcus salivarius. Acarbose and 1-deoxynojirimycin were more potent inhibitors of GTF than maltose, nojirimycin or various amino sugars. The mechanism of action of these compounds is consistent with competitive inhibition.