The role of luxS in Campylobacter jejuni beyond intercellular signaling

Ramić, Dina (author), Jug, Blaž (author), Šimunović, Katarina (author), Tušek-Žnidarič, Magda (author), Kunej, Urban (author), Toplak, Nataša (author), Kovač, Minka (author), Fournier, Marjorie (author), Jamnik, Polona (author), Smole Možina, Sonja (author), Klančnik, Anja (author)

The full role of the luxS gene in the biological processes, such as essential amino acid synthesis, nitrogen and pyruvate metabolism, and flagellar assembly, of Campylobacter jejuni has not been clearly described to date. Therefore, in this study, we used a comprehensive approach at the cellular and molecular levels, including transcriptomics and proteomics, to investigate the key role of the luxS gene and compared C. jejuni 11168ΔluxS (luxS mutant) and C. jejuni NCTC 11168 (wild type) strains. Transcriptomic analysis of the luxS mutant grown under optimal conditions revealed upregulation of luxS mutant metabolic pathways when normalized to wild type, including oxidative phosphorylation, carbon metabolism, citrate cycle, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and biosynthesis of various essential amino acids. Interestingly, induction of these metabolic pathways was also confirmed by proteomic analysis, indicating their important role in energy production and the growth of C. jejuni. In addition, genes important for the stress response of C. jejuni, including nutrient starvation and oxidative stress, were upregulated. This was also evident in the better survival of the luxS mutant under starvation conditions than the wild type. At the molecular level, we confirmed that metabolic pathways were upregulated under optimal conditions in the luxS mutant, including those important for the biosynthesis of several essential amino acids. This also modulated the utilization of various carbon and nitrogen sources, as determined by Biolog phenotype microarray analysis. In summary, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis revealed key biological differences in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, pyruvate, nitrogen, and thiamine metabolism as well as lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in the luxS mutant.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Campylobacter jejuni, luxS, intercellular signaling, transcriptome, proteome, metabolism, stress response
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 17 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-145736
• UDC: 579.22/.26
• ISSN on article: 2165-0497
• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02572-22
• COBISS.SI-ID: 139309059
• Publication date in RUL: 11.05.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Microbiology spectrum
• Shortened title: Microbiol. spectr.
• Publisher: ASM Press
• ISSN: 2165-0497
• COBISS.SI-ID: 4526968

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: patogeni mikroorganizmi, Campylobacter jejuni, luxS, medcelično signaliziranje, odziv na stres, proteomika