Mycolactone Toxin Membrane Permeation: Atomistic versus Coarse-Grained MARTINI Simulations.

ABSTRACT: Mycolactone, a cytotoxic and immunosuppressive macrolide produced by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is the central virulent factor in the skin disease Buruli ulcer. This multifunctional cytotoxin affects fundamental cellular processes such as cell adhesion, immune response, and cell death by targeting various cellular structures. Developing effective diagnostics that target mycolactone has been challenging, potentially because of suspected interactions with lipophilic architectures, including membranes. To better understand the pathogenesis of Buruli ulcer disease, aid in the development of diagnostics, and learn how amphiphiles in general use lipid trafficking to navigate the host environment, we seek to understand the nature of mycolactone-membrane interactions. Herein, we characterize how the

SUBMITTER: Aydin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6626831 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature