This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Narimatsu, M. Articles by Ebisu, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Narimatsu, M. Articles by Ebisu, S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infection and Immunity, May 2004, p. 2698-2702, Vol. 72, No. 5
0019-9567/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.72.5.2698-2702.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Essential Role for the gtfA Gene Encoding a Putative Glycosyltransferase in the Adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

Received 21 August 2003/ Returned for modification 10 November 2003/ Accepted 19 January 2004

Porphyromonas gingivalis, an oral bacterium, might play a role in the pathogenesis or progression of adult periodontitis. In this study, we isolated from P. gingivalis a putative glycosyltransferase gene, designated gtfA, which had a consensus domain for glycosyltransferase in its N terminus. GtfA consisted of 248 amino acids and its predicted molecular mass was 28 kDa; however, as the molecular mass of endogenous GtfA protein was around 40 kDa, this suggested that GtfA had undergone some posttranslational modifications. To reveal the role of the gtfA gene in P. gingivalis, we established gtfA-deficient strains by allelic replacement. Morphologically, gtfA-deficient P. gingivalis lacked mature fimbriae. gtfA-deficient P. gingivalis also showed a very low ability for autoaggregation, and its ability to attach to epithelial cells was severely impaired. Thus, the results indicate that the gtfA gene is required for P. gingivalis autoaggregation as well as attachment to epithelial cells. These results suggest that GtfA might have an important role in the pathogenicity of P. gingivalis by regulating adhesion.

Editor: V. J. DiRita

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Davey, M. E., Duncan, M. J. (2006). Enhanced Biofilm Formation and Loss of Capsule Synthesis: Deletion of a Putative Glycosyltransferase in Porphyromonas gingivalis.. J. Bacteriol. 188: 5510-5523 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Andrian, E., Grenier, D., Rouabhia, M. (2006). Porphyromonas gingivalis-Epithelial Cell Interactions in Periodontitis.. J. Dent. Res. 85: 392-403 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Vanterpool, E., Roy, F., Fletcher, H. M. (2005). Inactivation of vimF, a Putative Glycosyltransferase Gene Downstream of vimE, Alters Glycosylation and Activation of the Gingipains in Porphyromonas gingivalis W83. Infect. Immun. 73: 3971-3982 [Abstract] [Full Text]