Role of the DksA-like protein in the pathogenesis and diverse metabolic activity of Campylobacter jejuni

DksA is well known for its regulatory role in the transcription of rRNA and genes involved in amino acid synthesis in many bacteria. DksA has also been reported to control expression of virulence genes in pathogenic bacteria. Here, we elucidated the roles of a DksA-like protein (CJJ81176_0160, Cj0125c) in the pathogenesis of Campylobacter jejuni. As in other bacteria, transcription of stable RNA was repressed by the DksA-like protein under stress conditions in C. jejuni. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of C. jejuni 81-176 and an isogenic mutant lacking the DksA-like protein showed differential expression of many genes involved in amino acid metabolism, iron-related metabolism, and other metabolic reactions. Also, the C. jejuni DksA-like protein mutant exhibited a decreased ability to invade intestinal cells and induce release of interleukin-8 from intestinal cells. These results suggest that the DksA-like protein plays an important regulatory role in diverse metabolic events and the virulence of C. jejuni.