Profiling of the Helicobacter pylori redox switch HP1021 regulon using a multi-omics approach

Abstract

AbstractThe gastric human pathogenHelicobacter pylorihas developed mechanisms to combat stress factors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we present a comprehensive study on the redox switch protein HP1021 regulon combining transcriptomic, proteomic and DNA-protein interactions analyses. Our results indicate that HP1021 modulatesH. pylori’sresponse to oxidative stress. HP1021 controls the transcription of 497 genes, including 407 genes related to response to oxidative stress. 79 proteins are differently expressed in the HP1021 deletion mutant. HP1021 controls typical ROS response pathways (katA,rocF) and less canonical ones, particularly DNA uptake and central carbohydrate metabolism. HP1021 is a molecular regulator of competence inH. pylori, as HP1021-dependent repression of thecomBDNA uptake genes is relieved under oxidative conditions, increasing natural competence. Furthermore, HP1021 controls glucose consumption by directly regulating thegluPtransporter and has an important impact on maintaining the energetic balance in the cell.