Hemoglobin binding to chemostat-grown hemin-excess and hemin-limited c
ells of Porphyromonas gingivalis W50, and to cells of the avirulent, b
eige-pigmenting variant W50/BE1, was quantified. Hemin-excess W50 boun
d more hemoglobin than hemin-limited W50, mirroring the hemin-binding
ability of these cells [Microb Ecol Health Dis 7:9-15, 1994]. In contr
ast to hemin, hemoglobin binding was not enhanced by sodium dithionite
. The hemoglobin-binding capacity of hemin-excess W50/BE1 was below th
at of hemin-limited W50 and only observed under oxidizing conditions.
Scatchard analysis revealed similar affinity constants for hemin-exces
s and hemin-limited W50, and confirmed a lower binding maximum for the
latter. Hemin-excess WSO/BE1 displayed cooperative binding of hemoglo
bin. These differences in binding were reflected in the binding of a h
orse radish peroxidase-conjugated hemoglobin (HHRPO) in a dot-blot ass
ay. However, neither the 32-kDa hemin-binding protein, nor its 19-kDa
heat-modified form, from either hemin-limited W50 or hemin-excess W50/
BE1, bound this conjugate. These data indicate that hemoglobin binding
by P. gingivalis is hemin-regulated and occurs via a mechanism differ
ent from hemin binding.