title: Characterization of the Porphyromonas gingivalis FtsZ containing a novel GTPase activity.
abstract: The FtsZ protein is a GTPase that is essential for cell division. We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed the FtsZ (PgFtsZ) gene from the Porphyromonas gingivalis, an oral, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium implicated in progressive periodontal disease. The PgFtsZ gene consisted of 1374 bp and coded for an acidic protein with a calculated molecular mass of 50,253 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited a significant homology with E. coli FtsZ (54% identical residues). Like other prokaryotic FtsZs, PgFtsZ possessed the clear motifs for GTP binding (GGGTGTG) and hydrolysis (NLDFADV). When PgFtsZ was overexpressed in E. coli, cell division was inhibited. Recombinant PgFtsZ was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The purified PgFtsZ exhibited GTPase activity even in the absence of Mg2+, and completely retained its activity with EDTA. Furthermore, Na+ and K+ ions inhibited its GTPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that PgFtsZ contains an atypical GTPase activity that has not been previously described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kyushu Dental College, 2-6-1 Manazuru, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu 803-8580, Japan.
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akifusa
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ansai
authors.forename: Weixian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wachi
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Tadamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takehara
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002412:Cations; D002455:Cell Division; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004492:Edetic Acid; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002412:Cations; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012964:Sodium; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D011188:Potassium