Biomaterial Database

Formation of methyl mercaptan from L-methionine by Porphyromonas gingivalis. 2000

M Yoshimura, and Y Nakano, and Y Yamashita, and T Oho, and T Saito, and T Koga

Department of Preventive Dentistry, Kyushu University Faculty of Dental Science, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.

Methyl mercaptan production by oral bacteria is thought to be one of the main causes of oral malodor. We examined the ability of periodontopathic Porphyromonas gingivalis to produce methyl mercaptan from L-methionine and found that the invasive strains W83 and W50 produced large amounts of methyl mercaptan. We cloned and sequenced the mgl gene encoding L-methionine-alpha-deamino-gamma-mercaptomethane-lyase (METase) from P. gingivalis W83. The structural mgl gene consisted of 1,200 bp and encoded a 43.3-kDa protein. To examine the role of methyl mercaptan in the pathogenesis of P. gingivalis, a METase-deficient mutant of P. gingivalis W83 was constructed. The methionine degradation activity and virulence of the mutant (M1217) and the parent strain (W83) in mice were compared. M1217 showed a marked decrease in the formation of methyl mercaptan from L-methionine and decreased virulence compared with the wild-type strain W83. These results suggest that methyl mercaptan not only is one of the sources of oral malodor, but may also play a role in the pathogenicity of P. gingivalis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008715	Methionine	A sulfur-containing essential L-amino acid that is important in many body functions.	L-Methionine,Liquimeth,Methionine, L-Isomer,Pedameth,L-Isomer Methionine,Methionine, L Isomer
D008807	Mice, Inbred BALB C	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D009812	Odorants	The volatile portions of chemical substances perceptible by the sense of smell.	Odors,Aroma,Fragrance,Scents,Aromas,Fragrances,Odor,Odorant,Scent
D003001	Cloning, Molecular	The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells.	Molecular Cloning
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013437	Carbon-Sulfur Lyases	Enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of a carbon-sulfur bond by means other than hydrolysis or oxidation. EC 4.4.	Sulfhydrases,Carbon Sulfur Lyases,Lyases, Carbon-Sulfur
D013438	Sulfhydryl Compounds	Compounds containing the -SH radical.	Mercaptan,Mercapto Compounds,Sulfhydryl Compound,Thiol,Thiols,Mercaptans,Compound, Sulfhydryl,Compounds, Mercapto,Compounds, Sulfhydryl
D016966	Porphyromonas gingivalis	A species of gram-negative, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria originally classified within the BACTEROIDES genus. This bacterium produces a cell-bound, oxygen-sensitive collagenase and is isolated from the human mouth.	Bacteroides gingivalis