Analysis of novel zinc-binding proteins in the cell wall of <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i>.

ABSTRACT: Zinc is a critical nutrient for all living organisms, including bacterial pathogens such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causative agent of the severe human respiratory disease diphtheria. As such, zinc acquisition is essential for many pathogens to cause disease. We previously showed that the zinc-regulated ABC transporter encoded by the znu locus is one of several zinc uptake systems that support the growth of C. diphtheriae in zinc-limited medium. In this study, we examine the function and cellular localization of components encoded by the znu gene cluster, which includes the ZnuABC transporter and the novel membrane and cell wall proteins ZnuE, ZnuF, and ZnuG. Deletion of znuE results in reduced growth in zinc-limited media, suggesting a role in z

SUBMITTER: Peng ED 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12445094 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature