Structural, functional and biological insights into the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis VapBC11 toxin-antitoxin system: targeting a tRNase to tackle mycobacterial adaptation.

ABSTRACT: Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are involved in diverse physiological processes in prokaryotes, but their exact role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) virulence and in vivo stress adaptation has not been extensively studied. Here, we demonstrate that the VapBC11 TA module is essential for Mtb to establish infection in guinea pigs. RNA-sequencing revealed that overexpression of VapC11 toxin results in metabolic slowdown, suggesting that modulation of the growth rate is an essential strategy for in vivo survival. Interestingly, overexpression of VapC11 resulted in the upregulation of chromosomal TA genes, suggesting the existence of highly coordinated crosstalk among TA systems. In this study, we also present the crystal structure of the VapBC11 heterooctameric complex at 1.67 Å resolution. B

SUBMITTER: Deep A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6265470 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature