Mycobacterium tuberculosis nitrogen assimilation and host colonization require aspartate.
Here we identify the amino acid transporter AnsP1 as the unique aspartate importer in the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Metabolomic analysis of a mutant with an inactive AnsP1 revealed that the transporter is essential for M. tuberculosis to assimilate nitrogen from aspartate. Virulence of the AnsP1 mutant is impaired in vivo, revealing that aspartate is a primary nitrogen source required for host colonization by the tuberculosis bacillus.
1] Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Toulouse, France. [2] Université de Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Toulouse, France.
Alexandre
A
Gouzy
Gérald
G
Larrouy-Maumus
Ting-Di
TD
Wu
Antonio
A
Peixoto
Florence
F
Levillain
Geanncarlo
G
Lugo-Villarino
Jean-Luc
JL
Guerquin-Kern
Jean-Luc
JL
Gerquin-Kern
Luiz Pedro Sório
LP
de Carvalho
Yannick
Y
Poquet
Olivier
O
Neyrolles
D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D009584:Nitrogen