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Article
The Rho-independent transcription terminator for the porA gene enhances expression of the major outer membrane protein and Campylobacter jejuni virulence in abortion induction
Infection and Immunity
  • Lei Dai, Iowa State University
  • Zuowei Wu, Iowa State University
  • Changyun Xu, Iowa State University
  • Orhan Sahin, Iowa State University
  • Michael Yaeger, Iowa State University
  • Paul J. Plummer, Iowa State University
  • Qijing Zhang, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
9-30-2019
DOI
10.1128/IAI.00687-19
Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of foodborne illnesses worldwide. Its porA gene encodes the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) that is abundantly expressed and has important physiological functions including a key role in systemic infection and abortion induction in pregnant animals. Despite the importance of porA in C. jejuni pathogenesis, mechanisms modulating its expression levels remain elusive. At the 3 prime end of the porA transcript, there is a Rho-independent transcription terminator (named TporA in this study). Whether TporA affects the expression and function of MOMP remains unknown and is investigated in this study. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion constructs with the porA promoter at the 5 prime end and an intact TporA or no TporA at the 3′ end of the gfp coding sequence revealed that both transcript level of gfp and its fluorescence signals were more than 2-fold higher in the construct with TporA than the one without TporA. qRT-PCR analysis of the porA mRNA and immunoblotting detection of the MOMP protein in C. jejuni showed that disruption of TporA significantly reduced the porA transcript level and expression of the MOMP protein. mRNA decay assay demonstrated that disruption of TporA resulted in shortened transcript half-life of the upstream gfp or porA genes, indicating TporA enhances mRNA stability. In the guinea pig model, the C. jejuni construct with an interrupted TporA was significantly attenuated in abortion induction. Together these results indicate that TporA enhances the expression level of MOMP by stabilizing its mRNA and influences the virulence of C. jejuni.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article published as Dai, Lei, Zuowei Wu, Changyun Xu, Orhan Sahin, Michael Yaeger, Paul J. Plummer, and Qijing Zhang. "The Rho-independent transcription terminator for the porA gene enhances expression of the major outer membrane protein and Campylobacter jejuni virulence in abortion induction." Infection and Immunity 87, no. 12 (2019): e00687-19. DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00687-19. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
American Society for Microbiology
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Lei Dai, Zuowei Wu, Changyun Xu, Orhan Sahin, et al.. "The Rho-independent transcription terminator for the porA gene enhances expression of the major outer membrane protein and Campylobacter jejuni virulence in abortion induction" Infection and Immunity Vol. 87 Iss. 12 (2019) p. e00687-19
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/paul-plummer/37/