This study evaluated the ability of a dextranase from a marine bacterium Catenovulum sp. (Cadex) to impede formation of Streptococcus mutans biofilms, a primary pathogen of dental caries, one of the most common human infectious diseases. Cadex was purified 29.6-fold and had a specific activity of 2309 U/mg protein and molecular weight of 75 kDa. Cadex showed maximum activity at pH 8.0 and 40 °C and was stable at temperatures under 30 °C and at pH ranging from 5.0 to 11.0. A metal ion and chemical dependency study showed that Mn2+ and Sr2+ exerted positive effects on Cadex, whereas Cu2+, Fe3+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ functioned as inhibitors. Several teeth rinsing product reagents, including carboxybenzene, ethanol, sodium fluoride, and xylitol were found to have no effects on Cadex activity. A substrate specificity study showed that Cadex specifically cleaved the α-1,6 glycosidic bond. Thin layer chromatogram and high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that the main hydrolysis products were isomaltoogligosaccharides. Crystal violet staining and scanning electron microscopy showed that Cadex impeded the formation of S. mutans biofilm to some extent. In conclusion, Cadex from a marine bacterium was shown to be an alkaline and cold-adapted endo-type dextranase suitable for development of a novel marine agent for the treatment of dental caries.

Summary In this study, we investigated the microbially mediated transformation of labile Synechococcus‐derived DOM to RDOM using a 60‐day experimental incubation system. Three phases of TOC degradation activity (I, II and III) were observed following the addition of Synechococcus‐derived DOM. The phases were characterized by organic carbon consumption rates of 8.77, 1.26 and 0.16 μmol L−1 day−1, respectively. Excitation emission matrix analysis revealed the presence of three FDOM components including tyrosine‐like, fulvic acid‐like, and humic‐like molecules. The three components also exhibited differing biological availabilities that could be considered as labile DOM (LDOM), semi‐labile DOM (SLDOM) and RDOM, respectively. DOM molecular composition was also evaluated using FT‐ICR MS. Based on differing biological turnover rates and normalized intensity values, a total of 1704 formulas were identified as candidate LDOM, SLDOM and RDOM molecules. Microbial transformation of LDOM to RDOM tended to proceed from high to low molecular weight, as well as from molecules with high to low double bond equivalent (DBE) values. Relatively higher aromaticity was observed in the formulas of RDOM molecules relative to those of LDOM molecules. FDOM components provide valuable proxy information to investigate variation in the bioavailability of DOM. These results suggest that coordinating fluorescence spectroscopy and FT‐ICR MS of DOM, as conducted here, is an effective strategy to identify and characterize LDOM, SLDOM and RDOM molecules in incubation experiments emulating natural systems. The results described here provide greater insight into the metabolism of phytoplankton photosynthate by heterotrophic bacteria in marine environments.

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Most marine bacteria produce exopolysaccharides (EPS), and bacterial EPS represent an important source of dissolved organic carbon in marine ecosystems. It was proposed that bacterial EPS rich in uronic acid is resistant to mineralization by microbes and thus has a long residence time in global oceans. To confirm this hypothesis, bacterial EPS rich in galacturonic acid was isolated from Alteromonas sp. JL2810. The EPS was used to amend natural seawater to investigate the bioavailability of this EPS by native populations, in the presence and absence of ammonium and phosphate amendment. The data indicated that the bacterial EPS could not be completely consumed during the cultivation period and that the bioavailability of EPS was not only determined by its intrinsic properties, but was also determined by other factors such as the availability of inorganic nutrients. During the experiment, the humic-like component of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) was freshly produced. Bacterial community structure analysis indicated that the class Flavobacteria of the phylum Bacteroidetes was the major contributor for the utilization of EPS. This report is the first to indicate that Flavobacteria are a major contributor to bacterial EPS degradation. The fraction of EPS that could not be completely utilized and the FDOM (e.g., humic acid-like substances) produced de novo may be refractory and may contribute to the carbon storage in the oceans.