title: Recent advances in mycobacterial cell wall glycan biosynthesis.
abstract: The cell wall of mycobacteria, including the causative agents of the human diseases tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and leprosy (M. leprae), is composed of an array of carbohydrate-containing molecules. These glycoconjugates are assembled by glycosyltransferases (GTs) that work in tandem through pathways that are only now beginning to be fully understood. Given the essentiality of cell wall glycans to mycobacterial viability, these enzymes represent novel targets for drug action. Summarized here are recent genetic and biochemical studies leading to the identification and characterization of mycobacterial GTs.
authors.affiliation: Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Carbohydrate Science and Department of Chemistry, The University of Alberta, Gunning-Lemieux Chemistry Centre, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Pui-Hang
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Todd L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lowary
mesh_terms: D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D011134:Polysaccharides; D016695:Glycosyltransferases