Mycobacterium sulfur metabolism and implications for novel drug targets

Cell Biochem Biophys. 2013 Mar;65(2):77-83. doi: 10.1007/s12013-012-9410-x.

Abstract

New antibiotic targets are urgently needed to tackle the multidrug resistant and latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of the most formidable infectious disease tuberculosis. Sulfur metabolism is essential for the survival and virulence of many pathogens including M. tuberculosis. The absence of most genes involved in microbial sulfur metabolism in human beings suggests abundant novel potential antibiotic targets in pathogen sulfur metabolism. In this article, a comparative genomic landscape of Mycobacterium sulfur metabolism, such as the uptake, activation, and reduction of sulfate and allied enzymes, the biosynthesis pathway of some sulfated metabolites, and the enzymes involved in these pathways were presented. Novel clues for antibiotic targets are put forward.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bacterial Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biosynthetic Pathways / drug effects
  • Biosynthetic Pathways / genetics
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Mycobacterium / drug effects*
  • Mycobacterium / genetics
  • Mycobacterium / metabolism
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / metabolism
  • Sulfotransferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sulfotransferases / genetics
  • Sulfotransferases / metabolism
  • Sulfur / metabolism*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Sulfur
  • Sulfotransferases