Open AccessInteraction of Porphyromonas gingivalis with transferrin
Author(s) -
Tazaki Katsuko,
Inoshita Eiji,
Amano Atsuo,
Hanioka Takashi,
Tamagawa Hiroo,
Shizukuishi Satoshi
Publication year - 1995
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.1574-6968.1995.tb07771.x
Subject(s) - transferrin , hemin , porphyromonas gingivalis , transferrin receptor , lactoferrin , bacteroidaceae , biochemistry , receptor , binding site , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , heme , bacteria , enzyme , genetics
In this study, we characterized the binding of transferrin to Porphyromonas gingivalis using a classical receptor‐binding assay, and examined the relationship between the binding and availability of transferrin for the growth of P. gingivalis . The binding of 125 I‐labeled human transferrin to P. gingivalis occurred rapidly, reversibly and specifically. Scatchard analysis yielded a K d of 1.37 ± 0.16 μM and an apparent number of 1.13 ± 0.26 × 10 5 receptors per cell. The binding of transferrin was much increased when organisms were grown in iron‐limited conditions. Among the species of black‐pigmented anaerobic rods, those strains of P. gingivalis which had high transferrin‐binding activity exhibited unrestricted growth following the addition of transferrin to the hemin‐free culture medium. On the other hand, the presence of transferrin in the culture medium did not support unrestricted growth of organisms that had low transferrin‐binding activity. These results suggest that the binding of transferrin to P. gingivalis cells may be a preliminary step in iron acquisition, which allows them to survive in the healthy periodontal environment.