title: Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of MbtI, a protein essential for siderophore biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, depends on the secretion of salicylate-based siderophores called mycobactins for the acquisition of extracellular iron, which is essential for the growth and virulence of the bacterium. The protein MbtI is thought to be the isochorismate synthase enzyme responsible for the conversion of chorismate to isochorismate, the first step in the salicylate production required for mycobactin biosynthesis. MbtI has been overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified and crystallized. The crystals diffract to a maximum resolution of 1.8 A. They belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 51.8, b = 163.4, c = 194.9 A, consistent with the presence of either two, three or four molecules in the asymmetric unit.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92-019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Rochelle J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: Edward N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: J Shaun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lott
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017262:Siderophores / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017262:Siderophores; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases; C058486:isochorismate synthase