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Enzyme activities from eight small-sized oral spirochetes.
Scandinavian Journal of Dental Research
|April 1, 1986
Summary
Oral spirochetes from plaque exhibit significant protease and acid phosphatase activities. These enzymes, along with hyaluronidase and chondroitinsulfatase, may contribute to the development of periodontitis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Oral Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Oral spirochetes are associated with periodontal diseases.
- Understanding their enzymatic activities is crucial for identifying virulence factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect protease, peptidase, lipase, glycosidase, phosphatase, hyaluronidase, and chondroitinsulfatase activities in oral spirochetes.
- To investigate the role of these enzymes as potential virulence factors in marginal periodontitis.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme assays were performed on cultures of oral spirochetes in the early stationary phase.
- Methods included the API ZYM system, p-nitroanilide derivatived peptides, and mucopolysaccharide hydrolysis.
- Both culture media and spirochete cells were analyzed for enzyme activities.
Main Results:
- All strains displayed strong trypsin-like enzyme and acid phosphatase activities, primarily cell-bound.
- Extracellular hyaluronidase and chondroitinsulfatase activities were detected but diminished after subcultivation.
- Weak lipase and phosphoamidase activities were observed; no glycosidase activities were found.
Conclusions:
- Oral spirochetes possess significant enzymatic capabilities, particularly cell-bound proteases and phosphatases.
- Hyaluronidase and chondroitinsulfatase activities suggest a role in tissue degradation.
- These spirochetal enzymes are potential virulence factors implicated in the pathogenesis of marginal periodontitis.