Less complete population of pathways was observed for pyridoxal phosphate (vitamin B6) and biotin synthesis. Only two of the four detected proteins for vitamin B6 synthesis showed reduced abundance (PGN1359, PdxB and PGN2055, PdxA). For biotin synthesis, three of the six detected proteins showed reduced abundance (PGN0133, BioA; PGN1721, BioF; PGN1997, BioD). None of the vitamin/cofactor synthesis pathways showed any indication of increased protein levels in the three species community. The decrease in several vitamin/cofactor pathways could be due to a decreased utilization of those cofactors. However, in the

case of thiamine, the proteins that utilize this cofactor Doramapimod nmr showed no decrease, and a possible increase in abundance, implying that demand for vitamin B1 was unchanged. A more likely explanation for the reduced cofactor pathways is therefore nutrient transfer. Either one or both of the other organisms in the three species community could be providing P. gingivalis with cofactors, allowing reduced cofactor synthesis without reducing GSK690693 cost expression of the cofactor dependent pathways. Nutritional cross-feeding among members of oral biofilms is well established [5], and indeed P. gingivalis has been selleck screening library found to utilize succinate produced by T. denticola [39]. Nucleotide synthesis Pyrimidine

biosynthesis appeared to be reduced in the three species community (Fig. 5) as many of the proteins leading to the production of finished pyrimidine nucleotides have decreased abundance. However, the proteins responsible for incorporating finished ribonucleotides into RNA show

unchanged or increased abundance. As with vitamin biosynthesis this may be the result of nutrient transfer from the other organisms in the community. P. IMP dehydrogenase gingivalis can acquire nucleosides and nucleobases and it has even been suggested that they may represent an important nutrient source for P. gingivalis [40]. Consistent with uptake of nucleosides and their precursors, uracil permease (PGN1223) shows increased expression in the three species community. Figure 5 Pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway, showing protein abundance changes for the P. gingivalis – F. nucleatum – S. gordonii / P. gingivalis comparison. The protein names follow the same conventions as in Fig. 4. Green downward arrows indicate decreased abundance in the three species community. Red upward arrows indicate increased abundance. Yellow squares indicate no statistically significant abundance change. Empty squares indicate that the protein was not detected in the proteomic analysis. RNA and DNA are shown in bold. Purine biosynthesis does not appear to be significantly effected in the three species community (Fig. 6). A few proteins showed reduced abundance, but the central biosynthesis pathway was primarily unchanged. Figure 6 Purine biosynthetic pathway, showing protein abundance changes for the P. gingivalis – F. nucleatum – S. gordonii / P. gingivalis comparison.