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

Abstract

The gastric human pathogen Helicobacter pylori has developed mechanisms to combat stress factors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are present in the stomachs harsh environment. Here, we present a comprehensive study on the redox switch protein HP1021 regulon combining transcriptomic, proteomic and DNA-protein interactions analyses. Our results indicated that HP1021 decides about H. pylori response to oxidative stress. HP1021 regulon included 498 genes, of which 411 responded to oxidative stress. HP1021 controlled typical ROS response pathways (katA, rocF) and less canonical ones, particularly DNA uptake and central carbohydrate metabolism. We identified HP1021 as the first molecular regulator of competence in H. pylori, as HP1021-dependent repression of the comB DNA uptake genes was relieved under oxidative conditions, increasing natural competence. Furthermore, HP1021 controlled glucose consumption by directly regulating the gluP transporter and had an important impact on maintaining the energetic balance in the cell.