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Generation of the membrane potential and its impact on the motility, ATP production and growth in Campylobacter jejuni
Author(s) -
van der Stel AnneXander,
Boogerd Fred C.,
Huynh Steven,
Parker Craig T.,
van Dijk Linda,
van Putten Jos P. M.,
Wösten Marc M. S. M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.13723
Subject(s) - campylobacter jejuni , chemiosmosis , electron transport chain , biology , electron acceptor , atp synthase , anaerobic respiration , formate , formate dehydrogenase , acceptor , motility , biochemistry , phosphorylation , oxygen , biophysics , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , chemistry , catalysis , genetics , physics , organic chemistry , condensed matter physics
Summary The generation of a membrane potential (Δ ψ ), the major constituent of the proton motive force (pmf), is crucial for ATP synthesis, transport of nutrients and flagellar rotation. Campylobacter jejuni harbors a branched electron transport chain, enabling respiration with different electron donors and acceptors. Here, we demonstrate that a relatively high Δ ψ is only generated in the presence of either formate as electron donor or oxygen as electron acceptor, in combination with an acceptor/donor respectively. We show the necessity of the pmf for motility and growth of C. jejuni . ATP generation is not only accomplished by oxidative phosphorylation via the pmf, but also by substrate‐level phosphorylation via the enzyme AckA. In response to a low oxygen tension, C. jejuni increases the transcription and activity of the donor complexes formate dehydrogenase (FdhABC) and hydrogenase (HydABCD) as well as the transcription of the alternative respiratory acceptor complexes. Our findings suggest that in the gut of warm‐blooded animals, C. jejuni depends on at least formate or hydrogen as donor (in the anaerobic lumen) or oxygen as acceptor (near the epithelial cells) to generate a pmf that sustains efficient motility and growth for colonization and pathogenesis.