Fructan sucrose concentration

In the fall, the tuber sucrose concentration tends to be low thus, longer-chain-length molecules act as acceptors of the fructosyl group, resulting in the formation of longer-chain-length fructans (Edelman and Jefford, 1968). Increased kestose concentration is essential for chain lengthening since kestose, followed by short-chain fructans, are the best fructosyl donors (Edelman and... 

The sugars present in clovers are similar to those found in grasses, the main sugar being sucrose. Fructans are generally absent, but starch is present and concentrations of this polysaccharide as high as 50 g/kg DM have been reported in the dried leaves... 

A major virulence factor of 5. mutans is the production of extracellular polysaccharides, glucans and fructans, which are responsible for adhesion of the bacteria to the smooth surface of teeth. In addition the organisms excrete organic acids, which may be concentrated locally, to which 5. mutans is relatively tolerent. These organic acids are responsible for the destruction of dental tissue. Experiments have shown that precoating of the tooth surface, or 5. mutans cells, with glucan allows adherence of the bacteria to the tooth but the bacteria stick far more firmly when glucan synthesis takes place in the presence of sucrose in situ on the tooth surface. 

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