A new role for lipoproteins LpqZ and FecB in orchestrating mycobacterial cell envelope biogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Accounting for more deaths than any other bacterial species, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) represents a critical threat to public health worldwide. A key factor contributing to Mtb's virulence is its unique cell envelope, which acts as a protective barrier. Among the components of this envelope, lipoproteins represent a critical but understudied group of proteins. In this study, we focused on 79 conserved putative lipoproteins, shared between Mtb and the closely related M. marinum. Leveraging the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system for Mycobacteria, we generated frameshift mutations, targeting one conserved lipoprotein-coding gene at a time. We identified two mutants, lpqZ and fecB, that exhibited increased susceptibility to all tested antibiotics, suggesting cri

SUBMITTER: Lissner R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12802301 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature