Open AccessEffect of haemin on enzyme activity and cytotoxin production by Bacteriodes gingivalis W50
Author(s) -
Marsh P.D.,
McKee Ailsa S.,
McDermid Ann S.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1988.tb02803.x
Subject(s) - biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , trypsin , chemistry , propionate , bacteria , butyrate , biology , fermentation , genetics
Bacteriodes gingivalis W50 was grown in a chemostat at pH 7.5 under haemin‐limited and haemin excess conditions in order to provide cells with a known high or low inefectivity and virulence for mice, respectively. The activities of enzymes and formation of cytotoxic fermentation products by these cells were compared. No significant differences in chymotrypsin activity or in the ability to degrade hyaluronic acid were found; neither were there any significant differences in the production of butyrate, propionate or succinate. At pH 7.5, trypsin activity was 3.5‐fold higher in cells grown under haemin excess conditions whereas collagenolytic activity was nearly 3‐fold higher in haemin‐limited cells. Although collagenolytic activity may be important in tissue damage, a high ratio of trypsin to collagen breakdown activities was associated with virulent cells grown under an excess of haemin.