Glutathione catabolism by Treponema denticola impacts its pathogenic potential.

ABSTRACT: Treponema denticola is a spirochete that is etiologic for periodontal diseases. This bacterium is one of two periodontal pathogens that have been shown to have a complete three step enzymatic pathway (GTSP) that catabolizes glutathione to H₂S. This pathway may contribute to the tissue pathology seen in periodontitis since diseased periodontal pockets have lower glutathione levels than healthy sites with a concomitant increase in H₂S concentration. In order to be able to demonstrate that glutathione catabolism by the GTSP is critical for the pathogenic potential of T. denticola, allelic replacement mutagenesis was used to make a deletion mutant (Δggt) in the gene encoding the first enzyme in the GTSP. The mutant cannot produce H₂S from glutathione since it l

SUBMITTER: Chu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7153967 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature