Citrullinome of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Outer Membrane Vesicles: Confident Identification of Citrullinated Peptides

The study investigated the citrullination of proteins in the outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of Porphyromonas gingivalis, using advanced mass spectrometry techniques to identify citrullinated peptides with high confidence. Researchers found 78 citrullinated proteins with 161 citrullination sites in the wild-type strain, significantly more than in the mutants. The findings suggested that citrullinated proteins might contribute to autoimmune responses, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and affect microbial interactions and immune responses. The study emphasized the role of bacterial peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD) in modifying host proteins, potentially contributing to disease pathogenesis.