Bacteriocins are antibacterial proteins or polypeptides directly produced by some bacteria during their metabolic process. Streptococcus mutants also produce bacteriocin which named mutacin. Mutacins are probably relevant to the cariogenic characters and colonization of the Streptococcus mutants. Researchers pay close attention to the potential application on new antimicrobial by studying about mutacins. Many mutacins have been isolated and purified, some of which are related to quorum sensing regulation system. Furthermore, the gene sequences and amino acid sequences of these mutacins are also determined. This review summarizes the function of mutacins that related to the quorum sensing system.
