Title:Unraveling Major Proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Envelope
Volume: 19
Issue: 5
Author(s): Rananjay Singh, Devesh Sharma, Divakar Sharma, Sakshi Gautam, Mahendra Kumar Gupta and Deepa Bisht*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Tajganj,
Agra (UP)-282001, India
Keywords:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, cell envelope, cell membrane, proteins, tuberculosis, drug-resistant.
Abstract: Although treatable, resistant form of tuberculosis (TB) has posed a major impediment to the
effective TB control programme. As the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell envelope is closely associated
with its virulence and resistance, it is very important to understand the cell envelope for better
treatment of causative pathogens. Cell membrane plays a crucial role in imparting various cell functions.
Proteins being the functional moiety, it is impossible to characterize the functional properties
based on genetic analysis alone. Proteomic based research has indicated mycobacterial envelope as a
good source of antigens/proteins. Envelope/membrane and associated proteins have an anticipated role
in biological processes, which could be of vital importance to the microbe, and hence could qualify as
drug targets. This review provides an overview of the prominent and biologically important cell envelope
and highlights the different functions offered by the proteins associated with it. Selective targeting
of the mycobacterial envelope offers an untapped opportunity to address the problems associated
with the current drug regimen and also will lead to the development of more potent and safer drugs
against all forms of tuberculous infections.
