Recent advances in mycobacterial cell wall glycan biosynthesis

The cell wall of mycobacteria, including the causative agents of the human diseases tuberculosis ( Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and leprosy ( M. leprae), is composed of an array of carbohydrate-containing molecules. These glycoconjugates are assembled by glycosyltransferases (GTs) that work in tandem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in chemical biology 2009-12, Vol.13 (5), p.618-625
Main Authors: Tam, Pui-Hang, Lowary, Todd L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbohydrate Sequence
Cell Wall - metabolism
Glycoconjugates - biosynthesis
Glycoconjugates - chemistry
Glycosyltransferases - metabolism
Humans
Molecular Sequence Data
Mycobacterium - cytology
Mycobacterium - metabolism
Polysaccharides - biosynthesis
Polysaccharides - chemistry
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Summary:The cell wall of mycobacteria, including the causative agents of the human diseases tuberculosis ( Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and leprosy ( M. leprae), is composed of an array of carbohydrate-containing molecules. These glycoconjugates are assembled by glycosyltransferases (GTs) that work in tandem through pathways that are only now beginning to be fully understood. Given the essentiality of cell wall glycans to mycobacterial viability, these enzymes represent novel targets for drug action. Summarized here are recent genetic and biochemical studies leading to the identification and characterization of mycobacterial GTs.
ISSN:1367-5931
1879-0402
DOI:10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.09.012