In their efforts to find new drug targets against tuberculosis, Indian researchers have identified the role of a protein which is critical for growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Researchers at the National Institute of Immunology in collaboration with CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology have determined the role of FtsQ, a critical cell division protein and shown that both increasing and decreasing amounts of this protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis hampers its growth and division patterns.
This works builds upon research to understand regulatory roles of set of enzymes known as protein kinases in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
“We were investigating role of phosphorylation, a process which involves addition of phosphate group, of protein in controlling cell division,” said study leader Dr. Vinay Kumar Nandicoori. “Interestingly, cell division protein FtsQ was identified as one of the targets undergoing such regulatory modification.”
The studies involved investigating various aspects of this pathogen related to its growth regulation, cell division and its survival in the hostile environment of the host cells. “While humans are the natural hosts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, for research purpose we use cell lines and mice models of infection,” he added.
Preeti Jain, coauthor in this study, said, “We sought to understand how these pathogenic bacteria grow and divide from one cell into two daughter cells and how the process is controlled. While a lot is known about the proteins involved in cell division regulation in other bacteria, the identity of majority of proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still unknown.”
It was found that modifying optimum protein levels of FtsQ inside Mycobacterium tuberculosis significantly influenced the average cell length, an outcome of abnormal cell division. While the initial decrease in the cellular concentration resulted in smaller cells, upon further decrease they became larger which eventual led to death.
“Cell length and growth regulation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis are currently an intense area of research. The findings are exceptional and exciting, making FtsQ an important target for new anti-TB interventions,” commented Anand Ranganathan, associate professor, Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is not involved in this study.
The research team included Preeti Jain, Basanti Malakar, Mehak Zahoor Khan, Savita Lochab and Vinay Kumar Nandicoori of the National Institute of Immunology; Archana Singh of the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. This study was funded by the Department of Science and Technology.
This article was first published by India Science Wire.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!