title: Cloning, expression and characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoprotein LprF.
abstract: Lipoproteins are well known virulence factors of bacterial pathogens in general and of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, in particular. Lipoprotein lipidation between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria differs significantly as these are di- and triacylated, respectively. Little is known about the lipid anchor of mycobacterial lipoproteins. We reported recently that mycobacterial LppX, a lipoprotein involved in synthesis of cell wall components is triacylated, although mycobacteria are classified as GC-rich Gram-positive bacteria. We here exploited the model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis for the expression of Mtb LprF and characterized N-terminal modifications at the molecular level. LprF is a putative lipoprotein of Mtb involved in signaling of potassium-dependent osmotic stress. LprF is extensively modified in a mycobacterium-specific manner by a thioether-linked diacylglyceryl residue with one ester-bound tuberculostearic- and one C16:0 fatty acid and additionally by a third N-linked C16:0 fatty acid, and a hexose.
authors: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Gloriastr 30/32, CH-8006 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Juliane K
authors: JK
authors: Brülle
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Grau
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Tschumi
authors: Yolanda
authors: Y
authors: Auchli
authors: Reto
authors: R
authors: Burri
authors: Silke
authors: S
authors: Polsfuss
authors: Peter M
authors: PM
authors: Keller
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Hunziker
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Sander
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020102:Mycobacterium smegmatis / Q000378:metabolism; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D008074:Lipoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins