Campylobacter Fur and PerR Regulons
James Butcher, Annika Flint, Martin Stahl and Alain Stintzi
from: Iron Uptake and Homeostasis in Microorganisms (Edited by: Pierre Cornelis and Simon C. Andrews). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2010)
Abstract
Iron is known to catalyze a wide range of biochemical reactions essential for most living organisms, including Campylobacter jejuni. Paradoxically, this iron reactivity is also responsible for the generation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH), which are particularly biotoxic. In order to avoid iron toxicity, microorganisms must achieve an effective iron homeostasis by tightly regulating the expression of genes encoding the proteins involved in iron acquisition, metabolism and oxidative stress defences in response to iron availability. Interestingly, in addition to the classical ferric uptake regulator Fur, C. jejuni carries another member of the Fur family of metalloregulators, PerR. PerR is a peroxide-sensing regulator and typically regulates peroxide stress response in Gram-positive bacteria. Recent work indicates that the regulatory functions of Fur and PerR extend beyond their classically ascribed roles. These diverse functions include energy metabolism, protein glycosylation and flagella biogenesis. Moreover, the Fur and PerR regulons appear to overlap and co-regulate key genes at specific junctions. The current state of knowledge concerning Campylobacter jejuni's response to iron, oxidative stressors and the roles of both Fur and PerR in controlling gene expression will be discussed and compared to those reported in other bacteria read more ...
