The structure of an enzyme that helps generate a cloak that M. tuberculosis uses to evade immunity
What is it about?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis in humans. The bacterium coats itself a glycogen-like alpha-glucan to help evade an immune response. Rather than use the well-known classical biosynthetic pathway for glycogen biosynthesis, this pathogen uses a recently discovered alternative pathway. The alternative GlgE pathway uses a different building block to the classical pathway. We have solved the first structure of a carbohydrate-active enzyme enzyme, GlgM, that generates this alternative building block in mycobacteria. We now have greater understanding of how this enzyme works and how it compares with other similar enzymes.
Why is it important?
Understanding how this pathogen generates its cloak will help inform strategies to treat patients with tuberculosis.