Cloning and expression of hemolysin genes from Treponema denticola strains ATCC 35404 (TD-4) and human clinical isolate GM-1 in Escherichia coli.

The oral spirochete, Treponema denticola is a putative etiologic agent in adult periodontitis, and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. In vitro, the oral treponeme produces several factors including proteases, hemolysins, hemin-binding proteins, which could potentially be involved in the virulence of this spirochete. Our laboratory has been investigating the pathobiology of T. denticola, and has demonstrated the production of several hemolysins by T. denticola. In this report two hemolysin genes from T. denticola strains ATCC 35404 (TD-4) and GM-1 were isolated by screening genomic DNA libraries of T. denticola on sheep blood agar plates. Physical maps of the insert fragments were not identical. Southern blot analyses suggested some degree of homology in the nucleotide sequence. Maxicell analyses of [35S]-methionine-labeled polypeptides from the recombinant plasmids have suggested the synthesis of an approximately 62.5 kDa polypeptide. Biochemical characterization of the T. denticola hemolysin genes indicated the activity to be inhibited by Mg2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ but not by EDTA. Dithiothreitol and glutathione moderately enhanced the hemolytic activity of the recombinant plasmids. Iron partially inhibited the hemolytic activities. Addition of 2-2' bipyridyl moderately enhanced the activities, possibly by iron limitation. These results suggest the isolation of an identical hemolysin gene from T. denticola strains TD-4 and GM-1.