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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Produce Safety and Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #250462
Title: Growth phase-dependent activation of the DccRS regulon of Campylobacter jejuni

Author
item WOSTEN, MARC - Utrecht University
item VAN DIJK, LINDA - Utrecht University
item Parker, Craig
item GUILHABERT, MAGALIE - Agraquest, Inc
item VAN DER MEER-JANNSEN, Y - Utrecht University
item WAGENAAR, JAAP - Utrecht University
item VAN PUTTEN, JOS - Utrecht University

Submitted to: Journal of Bacteriology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2010
Publication Date: 6/1/2010
Citation: Wosten, M.M., Van Dijk, L., Parker, C., Guilhabert, M.R., Van Der Meer-Jannsen, Y.P., Wagenaar, J., Van Putten, J.P. 2010. Growth phase-dependent activation of the DccRS regulon of Campylobacter jejuni. Journal of Bacteriology. 192:2729-2736

Interpretive Summary: Two-component signal transduction systems play a vital role in the ability of bacteria to adapt to a changed environment by altering the gene expression in response to a wide variety of external stimuli. One particular two-component system, DccRS (Cj1223-Cj1222) of Campylobacter jejuni is important for the colonization of chickens. Here we dissected the DccRS system in more detail and provide evidence that the sensor DccS selectively phosphorylates the cognate DNA-binding effector, DccR. Microarray expression profiling, real-time RT-PCR, EMSA, and primer extension analyses revealed that the DccRS regulon of strain 81116 consists of five promoter elements all containing the consensus direct repeat sequence WTTCAC-N6-TTCACW covering the putative -35 promoter regions. One of these promoters is located in front of an operon encoding a putative macrolide efflux pump while the others are in front of genes coding for putative periplasmic or membrane proteins. The DccRS regulated genes in C. jejuni strain 81116 are needed to enhance early in vivo growth of C. jejuni in 7-day old chicken. The DccRS system is activated in the late stationary bacterial growth phase, probably via the release of metabolic products. Whole genome mRNA profiling and real-time RT-PCR analysis under these conditions demonstrated that the system has no influence on the transcription of genes outside the DccRS regulon.

Technical Abstract: Two-component systems are widespread prokaryotic signal transduction devices which allow the regulation of cellular functions in response to changing environmental conditions. The two-component system DccRS (Cj1223-Cj1222) of Campylobacter jejuni is important for the colonization of chickens. Here we dissected the DccRS system in more detail and provide evidence that the sensor DccS selectively Two-component systems are widespread prokaryotic signal transduction devices which allow the regulation of cellular functions in response to changing environmental conditions. The two-component system DccRS (Cj1223-Cj1222) of Campylobacter jejuni is important for the colonization of chickens. Here we dissected the DccRS system in more detail and provide evidence that the sensor DccS selectively