A two-component system regulates hemin acquisition in Porphyromonas gingivalis

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 5;8(9):e73351. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073351. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative oral anaerobe associated with infection of the periodontia. The organism has a small number of two-component signal transduction systems, and after comparing genome sequences of strains W83 and ATCC 33277 we discovered that the latter was mutant in histidine kinase (PGN_0752), while the cognate response regulator (PGN_0753) remained intact. Microarray-based transcriptional profiling and ChIP-seq assays were carried out with an ATCC 33277 transconjugant containing the functional histidine kinase from strain W83 (PG0719). The data showed that the regulon of this signal transduction system contained genes that were involved in hemin acquisition, including gingipains, at least three transport systems, as well as being self-regulated. Direct regulation by the response regulator was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. In addition, the system appears to be activated by hemin and the regulator acts as both an activator and repressor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacteroidaceae Infections / metabolism
  • Bacteroidaceae Infections / microbiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Hemin / metabolism*
  • Histidine Kinase
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Porphyromonas gingivalis / genetics
  • Porphyromonas gingivalis / physiology*
  • Protein Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Hemin
  • Iron
  • Protein Kinases
  • Histidine Kinase