title: Ppm1, a novel polyprenol monophosphomannose synthase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
abstract: Dolichol monophosphomannose (DPM) is an ever-present donor of mannose (Man) in various eukaryotic glycosylation processes. Intriguingly, the related polyprenol monophosphomannose (PPM) is involved in the biosynthesis of lipomannan and lipoarabinomanan, key bacterial factors termed modulins that are found in mycobacteria. Based on similarities to known DPM synthases, we have identified and characterized the PPM synthase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, now termed Mt-Ppm1. In the present study, we demonstrate that Mt-Ppm1 possesses an unusual two-domain architecture, by which the second domain is sufficient for PPM synthesis. However, when overexpressed separately in mycobacteria, domain 1 of Mt-Ppm1 appears to increase the synthesis of PPM. Interestingly, other mycobacteria such as M. smegmatis, M. avium and M. leprae produce two distinct proteins, which are similar to the two domains found in Mt-Ppm1. Using an in vitro assay, we also demonstrate that Mt-Ppm1 transfers Man from GDP-Man to a structurally diverse range of lipid monophosphate acceptors. The identification of the PPM synthase as a key enzyme in lipoarabinomannan biosynthesis now provides an attractive candidate for gene disruption to generate mutants for subsequent immunological studies. PPM synthase can also be exploited as a target for specific inhibitors of M. tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Medical School, The University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Sudagar S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gurcha
authors.forename: Alain R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Baulard
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Locht
authors.forename: D Branch
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Muhlecker
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: Dean C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Crick
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Gurdyal S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Besra
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers