Nucleotide sequence of a Porphyromonas gingivalis gene encoding a surface-associated glutamate dehydrogenase and construction of a glutamate dehydrogenase-deficient isogenic mutant.

The nucleotide sequence for a surface-associated protein (A. Joe, A. Yamamoto, and B. C. McBride, Infect. Immun. 61:3294-3303, 1993) of Porphyromonas gingivalis was determined. The structural gene comprises 1,338 bp and codes for a protein of 445 amino acids. The deduced molecular weight of the protein is 49,243. A data base search for homologous proteins revealed significant sequence similarity to the subunit protein of glutamate dehydrogenases (GDHs) isolated from various sources. This protein, which was previously labelled PgAg1, will now be called GDH. Recombinant GDH was purified to homogeneity, and native GDH was partially purified from P. gingivalis. Both preparations exhibited NAD-dependent GDH activity. Intact P. gingivalis and an extract of cell surface components also demonstrated NAD-dependent GDH activity. To help elucidate the role of this protein, an isogenic mutant of P. gingivalis lacking the GDH protein was generated by deletion disruption. Biological characterization of the mutant strain, P. gingivalis E51, demonstrated complete loss of GDH activity. Immunogold bead labelling of intact cells showed that GDH was no longer present on the surface of the bacterial cell. The GDH-negative mutant displayed impaired cell growth, as demonstrated by an increased generation time and an inability to grow to the same cell density as the parent.