Comparative proteomic analysis of Salmonella Typhimurium wild type and its isogenic fnr null mutant during anaerobiosis reveals new insight into bacterial metabolism and virulence

The aim of this study was to understand the role of anaerobic regulator FNR (Fumarate Nitrate Reduction) in Salmonella Typhimurium through proteomic approach. We did label free quantitative proteomic analysis of Salmonella Typhimurium PM45 wild type and the fnr null mutant cultured under anaerobic conditions. The data revealed 153 significantly differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the mutant out of 1798 total proteins identified. Out of 153 DEPs, 94 proteins were up-regulated (repressed by FNR) and 59 proteins were down-regulated (activated by FNR) in the mutant. The network analysis indicated up-regulation of TCA cycle, electron transport chain and ethanolamine metabolism and down regulation of pyruvate metabolism and glycerol and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Our study showed that FNR represses ethanolamine utilization. The different metabolic pathways such as pyruvate metabolism, glycerol metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism were activated by FNR. Further, FNR positively regulated the DNA binding protein Fis, one of the global regulators of virulence in Salmonella Typhimurium. Thus, our finding highlights the pivotal role of FNR in regulating bacterial metabolism and virulence during anaerobiosis for systemic infection of the host. •Here we compared proteome of S. Typhimurium WT and Δfnr mutant during anaerobiosis.•Our study provided the first report of repression of ethanolamine utilization by FNR.•First time, we found that FNR activated pyruvate metabolism, Glycerol metabolism.•FNR activated GlpQ, a key enzyme of Glycerophospholipid metabolism.•FNR positively regulated Fis, a global regulator of virulence in S. Typhimurium.