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Contact-dependent protein secretion in Porphyromonas gingivalis
1Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
Infection and Immunity
|September 24, 1998
Summary
Porphyromonas gingivalis secretes specific proteins upon contact with host cells, influencing its invasion. This study identifies key secreted proteins and proteases involved in this interaction, revealing a unique secretion pathway.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Porphyromonas gingivalis invades host epithelial cells, but the specific molecules mediating this process remain unclear.
- Understanding P. gingivalis invasion mechanisms is crucial for addressing related diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the modulation of secreted proteins by P. gingivalis upon interaction with gingival epithelial cells.
- To identify the role of specific proteases in P. gingivalis protein secretion and host cell interaction.
Main Methods:
- Western immunoblot analysis to detect secreted proteins.
- Comparison of wild-type and protease-deficient P. gingivalis mutants.
- Analysis of protein secretion profiles following epithelial cell contact.
Main Results:
- Contact with epithelial cells induced secretion of P. gingivalis proteins (35-95 kDa).
- Secretion of Arg-gingipain and Lys-gingipain proteases was repressed.
- Protease-deficient mutants showed altered contact-induced protein secretion profiles.
- P. gingivalis lacks a Type III secretion system homologous to enteric pathogens.
Conclusions:
- P. gingivalis utilizes a unique contact-dependent protein secretion pathway.
- Secreted proteins, potentially including proteases, play a significant role in P. gingivalis-host cell interactions.
- The identified secreted proteins may be key factors in P. gingivalis pathogenesis.