Role of the major antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cell wall biogenesis.
Article Details
- CitationCopy to clipboard
Belisle JT, Vissa VD, Sievert T, Takayama K, Brennan PJ, Besra GS
Role of the major antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cell wall biogenesis.
Science. 1997 May 30;276(5317):1420-2.
- PubMed ID
- 9162010 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
The dominant exported proteins and protective antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are a triad of related gene products called the antigen 85 (Ag85) complex. Each has also been implicated in disease pathogenesis through its fibronectin-binding capacities. A carboxylesterase domain was found within the amino acid sequences of Ag85A, B, and C, and each protein acted as a mycolyltransferase involved in the final stages of mycobacterial cell wall assembly, as shown by direct enzyme assay and site-directed mutagenesis. Furthermore, the use of an antagonist (6-azido-6-deoxy-alpha, alpha'-trehalose) of this activity demonstrates that these proteins are essential and potential targets for new antimycobacterial drugs.