It is noteworthy that FliN was upregulated Other components invo

It is noteworthy that FliN was upregulated. Other components involved in the switch, FliM and FliG, were normally expressed. The FliM and FliN proteins assemble to form a ring, called the C-ring [41]. In Salmonella, the FliN protein is involved in the switch process and its interaction with FliH is crucial for the localisation of the FliI-FliH complex in the C-ring [43]. We hypothesize that the 1.758-fold overexpression of FliN may be sufficient to modify the stoichiometry of the switch subunits, disrupting the correct functioning of the switch. The HP0256 mutant cells would then be unable to properly respond to chemotactic environmental stimuli, as illustrated by the abnormal motility observed in the

HP0256 mutant. A slight caveat for this hypothesis is that we do not have data to confirm an increase Anlotinib mw of FliN protein production in the HP0256 mutant. A number of outer NCT-501 manufacturer membrane proteins Trichostatin A in vivo and LPS-related proteins were differentially expressed in the HP0256 mutant. BabA and BabB expression were both up-regulated in the HP0256 mutant. BabA binds to the blood

group antigen Lewis b [44]. The sialic acid-specific adhesin HpaA is enriched in the flagellar sheath [45] and was significantly down-regulated in the HP0256 mutant. HpaA has been shown to be antigenic but not involved in the interaction with AGS cells [45]. The modifications of the cell envelope architecture, i.e. adhesins, hop proteins, alpha-2-fucosyltransferase, may explain the reduced ability of the HP0256 mutant to adhere to host cells and to induce an inflammatory response, i.e. interleukin-8 secretion. The disruption of HP0256 and its effect on cell envelope

architecture may modify the lipid profiles and/or membrane fluidity and therefore the function of the methyl-accepting chemotactic proteins. The biological significance of the alteration of expression of minD and ftsZ in the HP0256 mutant, two genes involved in the cell division process, remains unclear. A correlation with other membrane-associated protein expression, such as outer membrane proteins, cannot be excluded and additional experiments will Selleckchem Rucaparib be required to test this. Conclusions We initially hypothesized that HP0256 was a FliJ homologue in H. pylori based on bioinformatic analyses. Our data clearly show that HP0256 has a different function in H. pylori, compared to that of FliJ in Salmonella. Interestingly, HP0256 is still obviously involved in flagellum activity as its ablation caused a partial loss of motility. Its involvement with expression of some RpoN-dependent genes is noteworthy but did not result in major changes in the mutant phenotype (normal flagellar apparatus configuration). The partial loss of motility must therefore be due to effects upon other flagellar players. Based upon its observed up-regulation in the HP0256 mutant, FliN is a potential candidate responsible for the impaired motility we observed in the HP0256 mutant.

Comments are closed.