The gingipains: scissors and glue of the periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis.
The anaerobic bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis, is associated with chronic periodontal disease (periodontitis or gum disease). The disease is not only the leading cause of tooth loss in the developed world, but is associated with a number of systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The most potent virulence factors of this bacterium are the gingipains, three cysteine proteases that bind and cleave a wide range of host proteins. This article summarizes current knowledge of the structure and function of the enzymes, with a particular focus on what remains to be elucidated regarding the structure and function of the nonenzymatic adhesin domains of the high-molecular-weight forms of the proteases.
Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health Sciences & Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia. rebeccaelsiefitzpatrick@yahoo.com
Rebecca E
RE
Fitzpatrick
Lakshmi C
LC
Wijeyewickrema
Robert N
RN
Pike
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D037521:Virulence Factors; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases