Transcriptome analysis of virulence gene regulation by the ATP-dependent Lon protease in Typhimurium.

Determination of the virulence regulatory network controlled by the ATP-dependent Lon protease in serovar Typhimurium. The effect of Lon on Typhimurium virulence genes expression was investigated by RNA sequencing, and virulence-associated phenotypes between the wild-type and mutant were compared. , , and flagellar genes were activated, while genes were repressed in the mutant. Accordingly, the mutant exhibited increased adhesion to and invasion of epithelial cells, increased motility and decreased replication in macrophages. The activation of genes by Lon partially accounts for the replication defect of the mutant. A wide range of virulence regulatory functions are governed by Lon in ser. Typhimurium.