Inhibition of Glucan Synthesis by Flavipin-crosslinked Casein Polymers

Abstract

Mutastein, a casein polymer that inhibits insoluble glucan synthesis by Streptococcus sobrinus, was produced when Aspergillus terreus was grown in a medium containing α-casein. In these experiments, it was shown that flavipin (3, 4, 5-trihydroxy-6-methyl-o-phthalalde-hyde) isolated from cultures of A. terreus caused polymerization of α-casein. Like mutastein, the polymerization products were active in inhibiting insoluble glucan synthesis by S. sobrinus.