PGN_0298 in the Assembly and Insertion Machinery (Aim) Operon Is Essential for the Viability of <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a typical periodontal pathogen, and one of its key virulence factors is the powerful protease gingipains. Gingipains are secreted via the type IX secretion system (T9SS) and are associated with the assembly and insertion machinery (Aim) operon (PGN_0296 to PGN_0301), which encodes both T9SS components and non-T9SS proteins. In this study, we investigated PGN_0298, a gene of unknown function within this operon, to elucidate its role in P. gingivalis and to gain insights into its potential function through bioinformatics analyses. Our results demonstrated that PGN_0298 is essential for the viability of P. gingivalis, despite having limited direct association with T9SS. Sequence homology and structure predictions indicate that PGN_0298 encodes a putative isoprenyl transferase. The essentiality of PGN_0298 underscores its potential as a novel drug target for the treatment of periodontal disease.