title: Lipoprotein synthesis in mycobacteria.
abstract: Lipoproteins are a functionally diverse class of secreted bacterial proteins characterized by an N-terminal lipid moiety. The lipid moiety serves to anchor these proteins to the cell surface. Lipoproteins are synthesized as pre-prolipoproteins and mature by post-translational modifications. The post-translational modifications are directed by the lipobox motif located within the signal peptide. Enzymes involved in lipoprotein synthesis are essential in Gram-negative bacteria but not in Gram-positive bacteria. Inactivation of genes involved in lipoprotein synthesis attenuates a variety of Gram-positive pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The attenuated phenotype of these mutants indicates an important role of lipoproteins and lipoprotein synthesis in bacterial virulence. M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is one of the most devastating pathogens in the world. This article reviews recent findings on the synthesis, localization and function of lipoproteins in mycobacteria.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität Zürich, Gloriastrasse 32, CH-8006 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezwan
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität Zürich, Gloriastrasse 32, CH-8006 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität Zürich, Gloriastrasse 32, CH-8006 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tschumi
authors.affiliation: Nationales Zentrum für Mykobakterien, Gloriastrasse 30, CH-8006 Zürich, Switzerland.|Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität Zürich, Gloriastrasse 32, CH-8006 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sander
mesh_terms: D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008074:Lipoproteins