Regulation of Protease Expression inPorphyromonas gingivalis

ABSTRACT Although the strong protease activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis appears to be an important virulence property of these organisms, little information is currently available regarding the regulation of expression of the multiple protease genes. Utilizing thelacZ reporter gene strategy, the environmental factors which regulate the expression of the Arg-gingipain genergpA and the prtT protease gene were investigated. These two genes are reciprocally regulated since factors which retarded growth (iron depletion and nutrient limitation) appeared to upregulate rgpA expression while down-regulatingprtT expression. However, inactivation of the majorrgpA gene resulted in increased transcription of theprtT and tpr protease genes while decreasing expression of the Lys-gingipain kgp gene as detected by Northern blot analysis. By contrast, inactivation of theprtT gene did not significantly affect kgpexpression but moderately decreased rgpA mRNA levels. These results indicate that the protease genes of P. gingivalisare not coordinately regulated and suggest that some of these enzymes play specific roles in the physiology and/or virulence of these organisms.

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