The cell envelope-associated phospholipid-binding protein LmeA is required for mannan polymerization in mycobacteria.

ABSTRACT: The integrity of the distinguishing, multilaminate cell envelope surrounding mycobacteria is critical to their survival and pathogenesis. The prevalence of phosphatidylinositol mannosides in the cell envelope suggests an important role in the mycobacterial life cycle. Indeed, deletion of the pimE gene (ΔpimE) encoding the first committed step in phosphatidylinositol hexamannoside biosynthesis in Mycobacterium smegmatis results in the formation of smaller colonies than wild-type colonies on Middlebrook 7H10 agar. To further investigate potential contributors to cell-envelope mannan biosynthesis while taking advantage of this colony morphology defect, we isolated spontaneous suppressor mutants of ΔpimE that reverted to wild-type colony size. Of 22 suppressor mutan

SUBMITTER: Rahlwes KC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5655517 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature