Identification and molecular analysis of rough-colony-specific outer membrane proteins of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

ABSTRACT: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, a gram-negative bacterium isolated from the human mouth, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of early-onset periodontitis. Primary isolates cultured from subgingival plaque exhibit an adherent, rough colony phenotype which spontaneously converts to a nonadherent, smooth phenotype upon in vitro subculture. The rough colony variant produces abundant fimbriae and autoaggregates, while the smooth colony variant is planktonic and produces scant fimbriae. To begin to understand the significance of colony variation in biofilm formation by A. actinomycetemcomitans, outer membrane protein profiles of four isogenic rough and smooth colony variants were compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two proteins with relative molecular

SUBMITTER: Haase EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC96598 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature