Comprehensive Comparative Analysis of Cholesterol Catabolic Genes/Proteins in Mycobacterial Species

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Khajamohiddin Syed¹  DavidR. Nelson²  Mari van Wyk³  SamsonSitheni Mashele³  Rochelle van Wyk³ 

[1]Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa

[2]Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA

[3]Unit for Drug Discovery Research, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9300, Free State, South Africa

关键词: Cholesterol catabolism;    Cholesterol catabolic genes/proteins;    Comparative analysis;    in silico analysis;    Mycobacterium tuberculosis;    Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex;    Tuberculosis;    Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus complex;    Mycobacterium avium complex;    Mycobacteria causing leprosy;    Non-tuberculous mycobacteria;    Saprophytes;    Software tool;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms20051032

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In dealing with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of the deadliest human disease—tuberculosis (TB)—utilization of cholesterol as a carbon source indicates the possibility of using cholesterol catabolic genes/proteins as novel drug targets. However, studies on cholesterol catabolism in mycobacterial species are scarce, and the number of mycobacterial species utilizing cholesterol as a carbon source is unknown. The availability of a large number of mycobacterial species’ genomic data affords an opportunity to explore and predict mycobacterial species’ ability to utilize cholesterol employing in silico methods. In this study, comprehensive comparative analysis of cholesterol catabolic genes/proteins in 93 mycobacterial species was achieved by deducing a comprehensive cholesterol catabolic pathway, developing a software tool for extracting homologous protein data and using protein structure and functional data. Based on the presence of cholesterol catabolic homologous proteins proven or predicted to be either essential or specifically required for the growth of M. tuberculosis H37Rv on cholesterol, we predict that among 93 mycobacterial species, 51 species will be able to utilize cholesterol as a carbon source. This study’s predictions need further experimental validation and the results should be taken as a source of information on cholesterol catabolism and genes/proteins involved in this process among mycobacterial species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown