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Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, September 2001, p. 353-370, Vol. 65, No. 3
1092-2172/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.65.3.353-370.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Sodium Ion Cycle in Bacterial Pathogens: Evidence from Cross-Genome Comparisons

Claudia C. Häse,1 Natalie D. Fedorova,2 Michael Y. Galperin,2 and Pavel A. Dibrov3,*

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 381051; National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 208942; and Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada3

Analysis of the bacterial genome sequences shows that many human and animal pathogens encode primary membrane Na+ pumps, Na+-transporting dicarboxylate decarboxylases or Na+-translocating NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, and a number of Na+-dependent permeases. This indicates that these bacteria can utilize Na+ as a coupling ion instead of or in addition to the H+ cycle. This capability to use a Na+ cycle might be an important virulence factor for such pathogens as Vibrio cholerae, Neisseria meningitidis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, and Yersinia pestis. In Treponema pallidum, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Chlamydia pneumoniae, the Na+ gradient may well be the only energy source for secondary transport. A survey of preliminary genome sequences of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, and Treponema denticola indicates that these oral pathogens also rely on the Na+ cycle for at least part of their energy metabolism. The possible roles of the Na+ cycling in the energy metabolism and pathogenicity of these organisms are reviewed. The recent discovery of an effective natural antibiotic, korormicin, targeted against the Na+-translocating NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, suggests a potential use of Na+ pumps as drug targets and/or vaccine candidates. The antimicrobial potential of other inhibitors of the Na+ cycle, such as monensin, Li+ and Ag+ ions, and amiloride derivatives, is discussed.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Rm. 420, Buller Building, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada. Phone: (204) 474-8059. Fax: (204) 474-7603. E-mail: dibrovp{at}ms.umanitoba.ca.

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, September 2001, p. 353-370, Vol. 65, No. 3
1092-2172/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.65.3.353-370.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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