Isolation and identification of a cytopathic activity in Tannerella forsythia

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Dec 8;351(1):133-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.10.012. Epub 2006 Oct 11.

Abstract

Interactions between pathogens and host induce human disorders including periodontitis, disintegration of the tooth supporting tissues. Tannerella forsythia has been linked to the periodontitis and several cytopathic reagents have been found in the bacterium; however, its contribution to the disease remains unclear. Biochemical approach to explore the cytopathic effect revealed two distinct activities in T. forsythia (ATCC 43037) extract; one detaches adherent cells from substratum and another arrests cells at G2. An executor of former activity, forsythia detaching factor (FDF) was identified; its genomic sequence and peptidase activity revealed that FDF is a substantial form of putative PrtH; prtH gene was hypothetically identified directly from a DNA fragment of the bacterium and its native product has never been shown. Since FDF was found in the bacterial culture supernatant, its activity implies a contribution to the disintegration of tissues although the mechanism how FDF disturbs cellular anchors remains elusive.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Cell Extracts / chemistry*
  • Cell Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Cell Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Porphyromonas / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cell Extracts