Posttranslational modifications are mechanisms for rapid control of protein function used by cells from all domains of life. Acetylation of the epsilon amino group (
N
ε
) of an active-site lysine of the AMP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase (Acs) enzyme is the paradigm for the posttranslational control of the activity of metabolic enzymes. In bacteria, the alluded active-site lysine of Acs enzymes can be modified by a number of different GCN5-type
N
-acetyltransferases (GNATs). Acs activity is lost as a result of acetylation, and restored by deacetylation. Using a heterologous host, we show that
Campylobacter jejuni
NCTC11168 synthesizes enzymes that control Acs function by reversible lysine acetylation (RLA). This work validates the function of gene products encoded by the
cj1537c
,
cj1715,
and
cj1050c
loci, namely the AMP-forming acetate:CoA ligase (
Cj
Acs), a type IV GCN5-type lysine acetyltransferase (GNAT, hereafter
Cj
LatA), and a NAD
+
-dependent (class III) sirtuin deacylase (
Cj
CobB), respectively. To our knowledge, these are the first
in vivo
and
in vitro
data on
C. jejuni
enzymes that control the activity of
Cj
Acs.
IMPORTANCE
This work is important because it provides the experimental evidence needed to support the assignment of function to three key enzymes, two of which control the reversible posttranslational modification of an active-site lysyl residue of the central metabolic enzyme acetyl-CoA synthetase (
Cj
Acs). We can now generate
Campylobacter jejuni
mutant strains defective in these functions, so we can establish the conditions in which this mode of regulation of
Cj
Acs is triggered in this bacterium. Such knowledge may provide new therapeutic strategies for the control of this pathogen.