Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i>
<i>C. jejuni</i> is an important food-borne pathogen displaying high genetic diversity, substantially based on natural transformation. The mechanism of DNA uptake from the environment depends on a type II secretion/type IV pilus system, whose components are partially known. Here, we quan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/3/514 |
| _version_ | 1797613194309533696 |
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| author | Julia C. Golz Sandra Preuß Christoph Püning Greta Gölz Kerstin Stingl |
| author_facet | Julia C. Golz Sandra Preuß Christoph Püning Greta Gölz Kerstin Stingl |
| author_sort | Julia C. Golz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>C. jejuni</i> is an important food-borne pathogen displaying high genetic diversity, substantially based on natural transformation. The mechanism of DNA uptake from the environment depends on a type II secretion/type IV pilus system, whose components are partially known. Here, we quantified DNA uptake in <i>C. jejuni</i> at the single cell level and observed median transport capacities of approximately 30 kb per uptake location. The process appeared to be limited by the initialization of DNA uptake, was finite, and, finalized within 30 min of contact to DNA. Mutants lacking either the outer membrane pore PilQ or the inner membrane channel ComEC were deficient in natural transformation. The periplasmic DNA binding protein ComE was negligible for DNA uptake, which is in contrast to its proposed function. Intriguingly, a mutant lacking the unique periplasmic protein Cj0683 displayed rare but fully functional DNA uptake events. We conclude that Cj0683 was essential for the efficient initialization of DNA uptake, consistent with the putative function as a competence pilus protein. Unravelling features important in natural transformation might lead to target identification, reducing the adaptive potential of pathogens. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:52:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43c4667d3eb34c22b5d2be2eeaac9d67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:52:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-43c4667d3eb34c22b5d2be2eeaac9d672023-11-17T09:52:22ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2023-03-0113351410.3390/biom13030514Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i>Julia C. Golz0Sandra Preuß1Christoph Püning2Greta Gölz3Kerstin Stingl4National Reference Laboratory for Campylobacter, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, GermanyNational Reference Laboratory for Campylobacter, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 69, 14163 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Food Safety and Food Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 69, 14163 Berlin, GermanyNational Reference Laboratory for Campylobacter, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany<i>C. jejuni</i> is an important food-borne pathogen displaying high genetic diversity, substantially based on natural transformation. The mechanism of DNA uptake from the environment depends on a type II secretion/type IV pilus system, whose components are partially known. Here, we quantified DNA uptake in <i>C. jejuni</i> at the single cell level and observed median transport capacities of approximately 30 kb per uptake location. The process appeared to be limited by the initialization of DNA uptake, was finite, and, finalized within 30 min of contact to DNA. Mutants lacking either the outer membrane pore PilQ or the inner membrane channel ComEC were deficient in natural transformation. The periplasmic DNA binding protein ComE was negligible for DNA uptake, which is in contrast to its proposed function. Intriguingly, a mutant lacking the unique periplasmic protein Cj0683 displayed rare but fully functional DNA uptake events. We conclude that Cj0683 was essential for the efficient initialization of DNA uptake, consistent with the putative function as a competence pilus protein. Unravelling features important in natural transformation might lead to target identification, reducing the adaptive potential of pathogens.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/3/514competencegenetic diversityadaptationnatural transformation<i>pilQ</i>Cj1474c |
| spellingShingle | Julia C. Golz Sandra Preuß Christoph Püning Greta Gölz Kerstin Stingl Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> Biomolecules competence genetic diversity adaptation natural transformation <i>pilQ</i> Cj1474c |
| title | Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> |
| title_full | Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> |
| title_fullStr | Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> |
| title_short | Cj0683 Is a Competence Protein Essential for Efficient Initialization of DNA Uptake in <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> |
| title_sort | cj0683 is a competence protein essential for efficient initialization of dna uptake in i campylobacter jejuni i |
| topic | competence genetic diversity adaptation natural transformation <i>pilQ</i> Cj1474c |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/3/514 |
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