Tuberculosis is a leading health problem worldwide. Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence is based on its capability to reside inside macrophages. Host defense includes reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, removal of metal micronutrients and lowered pH. The microorganism survives, in part, by secreting various metalloenzymes (SODs, catalases, etc.) to overcome macrophage defenses. At the center of its pathogenic strategy is the handling of involved heavy metals (Cu+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, etc.), protons and perhaps alkali metals such as K+ and Mg2+. M. tuberculosis genome reveals the presence of numerous metal transporters. Among these, the more prominent are P-type ATPases. M. tuberculosis has 12 genes coding for these proteins (named Ctp, cation transport protein): 3 Cu+-ATPases, a K+-ATPase, 4 heavy metal ATPases of unknown substrate and 4 ATPases that likely transport H+ or alkali metals. We hypothesize that the pathophysiological role of these transporters is primarily determined by their substrate specificity. Metal specificities of a subset of these P-type ATPases will be determined by expressing these in E. coli, examining bacterial gain of function, and measuring the enzymatic and transport activity. Previous studies suggest that CtpC and CtpD are particularly relevant for in vivo (macrophage) M. tuberculosis growth. Testing this, M. tuberculosis mutants will be constructed along with strains overexpressing these proteins. Their virulence (in mice and cultured macrophages) and fitness to growth in various media will be assessed. The impact of mutating and overexpressing these proteins on M. tuberculosis metal homeostasis and its ability to respond to the host redox attack will be determined. Results form these studies will provide an initial appreciation of these proteins importance and enable the generation meaningful testable hypothesis on the biological function of these transporters.

Public Health Relevance

Approximately one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In spite of an available vaccine and effective treatments, there are 2 million tuberculosis-related deaths per year. This project will characterize a group of proteins that appear essential for tuberculosis virulence.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AI082484-02
Application #
7895905
Study Section
Macromolecular Structure and Function A Study Section (MSFA)
Program Officer
Jacobs, Gail G
Project Start
2009-07-20
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2010-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$194,561
Indirect Cost
Name
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
041508581
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01609
Patel, Sarju J; Lewis, Brianne E; Long, Jarukit E et al. (2016) Fine-tuning of Substrate Affinity Leads to Alternative Roles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Fe2+-ATPases. J Biol Chem 291:11529-39
Feldman, Mark; Shenderovich, Julia; Al-Quntar, Abed Al Aziz et al. (2015) Sustained release of a novel anti-quorum-sensing agent against oral fungal biofilms. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 59:2265-72
Dragset, Marte S; Poce, Giovanna; Alfonso, Salvatore et al. (2015) A novel antimycobacterial compound acts as an intracellular iron chelator. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 59:2256-64
Raimunda, Daniel; Long, Jarukit E; Padilla-Benavides, Teresita et al. (2014) Differential roles for the Co(2+) /Ni(2+) transporting ATPases, CtpD and CtpJ, in Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence. Mol Microbiol 91:185-97
Padilla-Benavides, Teresita; Long, Jarukit E; Raimunda, Daniel et al. (2013) A novel P(1B)-type Mn2+-transporting ATPase is required for secreted protein metallation in mycobacteria. J Biol Chem 288:11334-47
Raimunda, Daniel; Long, Jarukit E; Sassetti, Christopher M et al. (2012) Role in metal homeostasis of CtpD, a Coýýýýý transporting P(1B4)-ATPase of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Mol Microbiol 84:1139-49
Raimunda, Daniel; Subramanian, Poorna; Stemmler, Timothy et al. (2012) A tetrahedral coordination of Zinc during transmembrane transport by P-type Zn(2+)-ATPases. Biochim Biophys Acta 1818:1374-7
Argüello, José M; Raimunda, Daniel; González-Guerrero, Manuel (2012) Metal transport across biomembranes: emerging models for a distinct chemistry. J Biol Chem 287:13510-7
Rosenzweig, Amy C; Argüello, José M (2012) Toward a molecular understanding of metal transport by P(1B)-type ATPases. Curr Top Membr 69:113-36
Arguello, Jose M; Gonzalez-Guerrero, Manuel; Raimunda, Daniel (2011) Bacterial transition metal P(1B)-ATPases: transport mechanism and roles in virulence. Biochemistry 50:9940-9

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