Structure, function and biosynthesis of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall: arabinogalactan and lipoarabinomannan assembly with a view to discovering new drug targets

Biochem Soc Trans. 2007 Nov;35(Pt 5):1325-8. doi: 10.1042/BST0351325.

Abstract

In spite of effective antibiotics to treat TB (tuberculosis) since the early 1960s, we enter the new millennium with TB, currently the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, killing more than three million people worldwide each year. Thus an understanding of drug-resistance mechanisms, the immunobiology of cell wall components to elucidate host-pathogen interactions and the discovery of new drug targets are now required for the treatment of TB. Above the plasma membrane is a classical chemotype IV PG (peptidoglycan) to which is attached the macromolecular structure, mycolyl-arabinogalactan, via a unique diglycosylphosphoryl bridge. This review will discuss the assembly of the mAGP (mycolyl-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan), its associated glycolipids and the site of action of EMB (ethambutol), bringing forward a new era in TB research and focus on new drugs to combat multidrug resistant TB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / chemistry*
  • Cell Wall / metabolism*
  • Galactans / biosynthesis*
  • Galactans / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / biosynthesis*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Galactans
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • lipoarabinomannan
  • arabinogalactan