Pathway to synthesis and processing of mycolic acids in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Complete auxotrophy for unsaturated fatty acids requires deletion of two sets of genes in Mycobacterium smegmatis

The synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in Mycobacterium smegmatis is poorly characterized. Bioinformatic analysis revealed four putative fatty acid desaturases in its genome, one of which, MSMEG_1886, is highly homologous to desA3, the only palmitoyl/stearoyl desaturase present in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome. A MSMEG_1886 deletion mutant was partially auxotrophic for oleic acid and viable at 37°C and 25°C, although with a long lag phase in liquid medium. Fatty acid analysis suggested that MSMEG_1886 is a palmitoyl/stearoyl desaturase, as the synthesis of palmitoleic acid was abrogated, while oleic acid contents dropped by half in the mutant. Deletion of the operon MSMEG_1741-1743 (highly homologous to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa acyl-CoA desaturase) had little effect on growth of the parental strain; however the double mutant MSMEG_1886-MSMEG_1741-1743 strictly required oleic acid for growth. The ΔMSMEG_1886-ΔMSMEG_1741 double mutant was able to grow (poorly but better than the ΔMSMEG_1886 single mutant) in solid and liquid media devoid of oleic acid, suggesting a repressor role for ΔMSMEG_1741. Fatty acid analysis of the described mutants suggested that MSMEG_1742-43 desaturates C18:0 and C24:0 fatty acids. Thus, although the M. smegmatis desA3 homologue is the major player in unsaturated fatty acid synthesis, a second set of genes is also involved.

Observed crowding effects on Mycobacterium tuberculosis 2-trans-enoyl-ACP (CoA) reductase enzyme activity are not due to excluded volume only

The cellular milieu is a complex and crowded aqueous solution. Macromolecular crowding effects are commonly studied in vitro using crowding agents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects, if any, of macromolecular synthetic crowding agents on the apparent steady-state kinetic parameters (K m , k cat , and k cat /K m ) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 2-trans-enoyl-ACP (CoA) reductase (InhA). Negligible effects on InhA activity were observed for ficoll 70, ficoll 400 and dextran 70. A complex effect was observed for PEG 6000. Glucose and sucrose showed, respectively, no effect on InhA activity and decreased k cat /K m for NADH and k cat for 2-trans-dodecenoyl-CoA. Molecular dynamics results suggest that InhA adopts a more compact conformer in sucrose solution. The effects of the crowding agents on the energy (E a and E η ), enthalpy (∆H # ), entropy (∆S # ), and Gibbs free energy (∆G # ) of activation were determined. The ∆G # values for all crowding agents were similar to buffer, suggesting that excluded volume effects did not facilitate stable activated ES # complex formation. Nonlinear Arrhenius plot for PEG 6000 suggests that "soft" interactions play a role in crowding effects. The results on InhA do not unequivocally meet the criteria for crowding effect due to exclude volume only.

2-aminoimidazoles potentiate ß-lactam antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis by reducing ß-lactamase secretion and increasing cell envelope permeability

There is an urgent need to develop new drug treatment strategies to control the global spread of drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). The ß-lactam class of antibiotics is among the safest and most widely prescribed antibiotics, but they are not effective against M. tuberculosis due to intrinsic resistance. This study shows that 2-aminoimidazole (2-AI)-based small molecules potentiate ß-lactam antibiotics against M. tuberculosis. Active 2-AI compounds significantly reduced the minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of ß-lactams by increasing M. tuberculosis cell envelope permeability and decreasing protein secretion including ß-lactamase. Metabolic labeling and transcriptional profiling experiments revealed that 2-AI compounds impair mycolic acid biosynthesis, export and linkage to the mycobacterial envelope, counteracting an important defense mechanism reducing permeability to external agents. Additionally, other important constituents of the M. tuberculosis outer membrane including sulfolipid-1 and polyacyltrehalose were also less abundant in 2-AI treated bacilli. As a consequence of 2-AI treatment, M. tuberculosis displayed increased sensitivity to SDS, increased permeability to nucleic acid staining dyes, and rapid binding of cell wall targeting antibiotics. Transcriptional profiling analysis further confirmed that 2-AI induces transcriptional regulators associated with cell envelope stress. 2-AI based small molecules potentiate the antimicrobial activity of ß-lactams by a mechanism that is distinct from specific inhibitors of ß-lactamase activity and therefore may have value as an adjunctive anti-TB treatment.

MmpL3 is the flippase for mycolic acids in mycobacteria

The defining feature of the mycobacterial outer membrane (OM) is the presence of mycolic acids (MAs), which, in part, render the bilayer extremely hydrophobic and impermeable to external insults, including many antibiotics. Although the biosynthetic pathway of MAs is well studied, the mechanism(s) by which these lipids are transported across the cell envelope is(are) much less known. Mycobacterial membrane protein Large 3 (MmpL3), an essential inner membrane (IM) protein, is implicated in MA transport, but its exact function has not been elucidated. It is believed to be the cellular target of several antimycobacterial compounds; however, evidence for direct inhibition of MmpL3 activity is also lacking. Here, we establish that MmpL3 is the MA flippase at the IM of mycobacteria and is the molecular target of BM212, a 1,5-diarylpyrrole compound. We develop assays that selectively access mycolates on the surface of Mycobacterium smegmatis spheroplasts, allowing us to monitor flipping of MAs across the IM. Using these assays, we establish the mechanism of action of BM212 as a potent MmpL3 inhibitor, and use it as a molecular probe to demonstrate the requirement for functional MmpL3 in the transport of MAs across the IM. Finally, we show that BM212 binds MmpL3 directly and inhibits its activity. Our work provides fundamental insights into OM biogenesis and MA transport in mycobacteria. Furthermore, our assays serve as an important platform for accelerating the validation of small molecules that target MmpL3, and their development as future antituberculosis drugs.

Analysis of Corynebacterium diphtheriae macrophage interaction: Dispensability of corynomycolic acids for inhibition of phagolysosome maturation and identification of a new gene involved in synthesis of the corynomycolic acid layer

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the causative agent of diphtheria, a toxin mediated disease of upper respiratory tract, which can be fatal. As a member of the CMNR group, C. diphtheriae is closely related to members of the genera Mycobacterium, Nocardia and Rhodococcus. Almost all members of these genera comprise an outer membrane layer of mycolic acids, which is assumed to influence host-pathogen interactions. In this study, three different C. diphtheriae strains were investigated in respect to their interaction with phagocytic murine and human cells and the invertebrate infection model Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results indicate that C. diphtheriae is able to delay phagolysosome maturation after internalization in murine and human cell lines. This effect is independent of the presence of mycolic acids, as one of the strains lacked corynomycolates. In addition, analyses of NF-κB induction revealed a mycolate-independent mechanism and hint to detrimental effects of the different strains tested on the phagocytic cells. Bioinformatics analyses carried out to elucidate the reason for the lack of mycolates in one of the strains led to the identification of a new gene involved in mycomembrane formation in C. diphtheriae.

Modulation of Trehalose Dimycolate and Immune System by Rv0774c Protein Enhanced the Intracellular Survival of Mycobacterium smegmatis in Human Macrophages Cell Line

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0774c protein was reported previously to express under stress conditions. Therefore, Rv0774c gene was cloned and expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis, a surrogate host, to determine its role in bacterial persistence and immune modulation in natural environment. The bacterial colonies expressing Rv0774c (Ms_rv0774c) were larger, smoother, more moist, and flatter than the control ones (Ms_ve). Enhanced survival of Ms_rv0774c after treatment with streptomycin was observed when compared with control. The cell envelope of Ms_rv0774c was demonstrated to have more trehalose di-mycolate (TDM) and lesser amount of mycolylmannosylphosphorylheptaprenol (Myc-PL) in comparison to control. Higher intracellular survival rate was observed for Ms_rv0774c as compared to Ms_ve in the THP-1 cells. This could be correlated to the reduction in the levels of reactive NO and iNOS expression. Infection of macrophages with Ms_rv0774c resulted in significantly increased expression of TLR2 receptor and IL-10 cytokines. However, it lowered the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-12, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and MCP-1 in Ms_rv0774c infected macrophages in comparison to the control and could be associated with decreased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Though, predicted with high antigenicity index bioinformatically, extracellular in nature and accessible to host milieu, Rv0774c was not able to generate humoral response in patient samples. Overall, the present findings indicated that Rv0774c altered the morphology and streptomycin sensitivity by altering the lipid composition of M. smegmatis as well as modulated the immune response in favor of bacterial persistence.

Development of a Novel Lead that Targets M. tuberculosis Polyketide Synthase 13

Widespread resistance to first-line TB drugs is a major problem that will likely only be resolved through the development of new drugs with novel mechanisms of action. We have used structure-guided methods to develop a lead molecule that targets the thioesterase activity of polyketide synthase Pks13, an essential enzyme that forms mycolic acids, required for the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Our lead, TAM16, is a benzofuran class inhibitor of Pks13 with highly potent in vitro bactericidal activity against drug-susceptible and drug-resistant clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis. In multiple mouse models of TB infection, TAM16 showed in vivo efficacy equal to the first-line TB drug isoniazid, both as a monotherapy and in combination therapy with rifampicin. TAM16 has excellent pharmacological and safety profiles, and the frequency of resistance for TAM16 is ∼100-fold lower than INH, suggesting that it can be developed as a new antitubercular aimed at the acute infection. PAPERCLIP.

Improving the production of 22-hydroxy-23,24-bisnorchol-4-ene-3-one from sterols in Mycobacterium neoaurum by increasing cell permeability and modifying multiple genes

Background

The strategy of modifying the sterol catabolism pathway in mycobacteria has been adopted to produce steroidal pharmaceutical intermediates, such as 22-hydroxy-23,24-bisnorchol-4-ene-3-one (4-HBC), which is used to synthesize various steroids in the industry. However, the productivity is not desirable due to some inherent problems, including the unsatisfactory uptake rate and the low metabolic efficiency of sterols. The compact cell envelope of mycobacteria is a main barrier for the uptake of sterols. In this study, a combined strategy of improving the cell envelope permeability as well as the intracellular sterol metabolism efficiency was investigated to increase the productivity of 4-HBC.

Results

MmpL3, encoding a transmembrane transporter of trehalose monomycolate, is an important gene influencing the assembly of mycobacterial cell envelope. The disruption of mmpL3 in Mycobacterium neoaurum ATCC 25795 significantly enhanced the cell permeability by 23.4% and the consumption capacity of sterols by 15.6%. Therefore, the inactivation of mmpL3 was performed in a 4-HBC-producing strain derived from the wild type M. neoaurum and the 4-HBC production in the engineered strain was increased by 24.7%. Subsequently, to enhance the metabolic efficiency of sterols, four key genes, choM1, choM2, cyp125, and fadA5, involved in the sterol conversion pathway were individually overexpressed in the engineered mmpL3-deficient strain. The production of 4-HBC displayed the increases of 18.5, 8.9, 14.5, and 12.1%, respectively. Then, the more efficient genes (choM1, cyp125, and fadA5) were co-overexpressed in the engineered mmpL3-deficient strain, and the productivity of 4-HBC was ultimately increased by 20.3% (0.0633 g/L/h, 7.59 g/L 4-HBC from 20 g/L phytosterol) compared with its original productivity (0.0526 g/L/h, 6.31 g/L 4-HBC from 20 g/L phytosterol) in an industrial resting cell bio-transformation system.

Conclusions

Increasing cell permeability combined with the co-overexpression of the key genes (cyp125, choM1, and fadA5) involved in the conversion pathway of sterol to 4-HBC was effective to enhance the productivity of 4-HBC. The strategy might also be useful for the conversion of sterol to other steroidal intermediates by mycobacteria.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12934-017-0705-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Crystal structure of the essential biotin-dependent carboxylase AccA3 fromMycobacterium tuberculosis

Biotin‐dependent acetyl‐CoA carboxylases catalyze the committed step in type II fatty acid biosynthesis, the main route for production of membrane phospholipids in bacteria, and are considered a key target for antibacterial drug discovery. Here we describe the first structure of AccA3, an essential component of the acetyl‐CoA carboxylase system in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb). The structure, sequence comparisons, and modeling of ligand‐bound states reveal that the ATP cosubstrate‐binding site shows distinct differences compared to other bacterial and eukaryotic biotin carboxylases, including all human homologs. This suggests the possibility to design MTb AccA3 subtype‐specific inhibitors.

Database

Coordinates and structure factors have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank with the accession number 5MLK.

Enzymatic Halogenation and Dehalogenation Reactions: Pervasive and Mechanistically Diverse

Naturally produced halogenated compounds are ubiquitous across all domains of life where they perform a multitude of biological functions and adopt a diversity of chemical structures. Accordingly, a diverse collection of enzyme catalysts to install and remove halogens from organic scaffolds has evolved in nature. Accounting for the different chemical properties of the four halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine) and the diversity and chemical reactivity of their organic substrates, enzymes performing biosynthetic and degradative halogenation chemistry utilize numerous mechanistic strategies involving oxidation, reduction, and substitution. Biosynthetic halogenation reactions range from simple aromatic substitutions to stereoselective C-H functionalizations on remote carbon centers and can initiate the formation of simple to complex ring structures. Dehalogenating enzymes, on the other hand, are best known for removing halogen atoms from man-made organohalogens, yet also function naturally, albeit rarely, in metabolic pathways. This review details the scope and mechanism of nature's halogenation and dehalogenation enzymatic strategies, highlights gaps in our understanding, and posits where new advances in the field might arise in the near future.

Fecal metagenomic profiles in subgroups of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

BACKGROUND

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is characterized by unexplained persistent fatigue, commonly accompanied by cognitive dysfunction, sleeping disturbances, orthostatic intolerance, fever, lymphadenopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The extent to which the gastrointestinal microbiome and peripheral inflammation are associated with ME/CFS remains unclear. We pursued rigorous clinical characterization, fecal bacterial metagenomics, and plasma immune molecule analyses in 50 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy controls frequency-matched for age, sex, race/ethnicity, geographic site, and season of sampling.

RESULTS

Topological analysis revealed associations between IBS co-morbidity, body mass index, fecal bacterial composition, and bacterial metabolic pathways but not plasma immune molecules. IBS co-morbidity was the strongest driving factor in the separation of topological networks based on bacterial profiles and metabolic pathways. Predictive selection models based on bacterial profiles supported findings from topological analyses indicating that ME/CFS subgroups, defined by IBS status, could be distinguished from control subjects with high predictive accuracy. Bacterial taxa predictive of ME/CFS patients with IBS were distinct from taxa associated with ME/CFS patients without IBS. Increased abundance of unclassified Alistipes and decreased Faecalibacterium emerged as the top biomarkers of ME/CFS with IBS; while increased unclassified Bacteroides abundance and decreased Bacteroides vulgatus were the top biomarkers of ME/CFS without IBS. Despite findings of differences in bacterial taxa and metabolic pathways defining ME/CFS subgroups, decreased metabolic pathways associated with unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and increased atrazine degradation pathways were independent of IBS co-morbidity. Increased vitamin B6 biosynthesis/salvage and pyrimidine ribonucleoside degradation were the top metabolic pathways in ME/CFS without IBS as well as in the total ME/CFS cohort. In ME/CFS subgroups, symptom severity measures including pain, fatigue, and reduced motivation were correlated with the abundance of distinct bacterial taxa and metabolic pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Independent of IBS, ME/CFS is associated with dysbiosis and distinct bacterial metabolic disturbances that may influence disease severity. However, our findings indicate that dysbiotic features that are uniquely ME/CFS-associated may be masked by disturbances arising from the high prevalence of IBS co-morbidity in ME/CFS. These insights may enable more accurate diagnosis and lead to insights that inform the development of specific therapeutic strategies in ME/CFS subgroups.

Genomic characterization of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae have remained, for many years, the primary species of the genus Mycobacterium of clinical and microbiological interest. The other members of the genus, referred to as nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), have long been underinvestigated. In the last decades, however, the number of reports linking various NTM species with human diseases has steadily increased and treatment difficulties have emerged. Despite the availability of whole genome sequencing technologies, limited effort has been devoted to the genetic characterization of NTM species. As a consequence, the taxonomic and phylogenetic structure of the genus remains unsettled and genomic information is lacking to support the identification of these organisms in a clinical setting. In this work, we widen the knowledge of NTMs by reconstructing and analyzing the genomes of 41 previously uncharacterized NTM species. We provide the first comprehensive characterization of the genomic diversity of NTMs and open new venues for the clinical identification of opportunistic pathogens from this genus.

Studies of Staphylococcus aureus FabI inhibitors: fragment-based approach based on holographic structure-activity relationship analyses

AIM

FabI is a key enzyme in the fatty acid metabolism of Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and is an established drug target for known antibiotics such as triclosan. However, due to increasing antibacterial resistance, there is an urgent demand for new drug discovery. Recently, aminopyridine derivatives have been proposed as promising competitive inhibitors of FabI.

METHODS

In the present study, holographic structure-activity relationship (HQSAR) analyses were employed for determining structural contributions of a series containing 105 FabI inhibitors.

RESULTS & CONCLUSION

The final HQSAR model was robust and predictive according to statistical validation (q² and r²_pred equal to 0.696 and 0.854, respectively) and could be further employed to generate fragment contribution maps. Then, final HQSAR model together with FabI active site information can be useful for designing novel bioactive ligands.

Development of gallic acid formazans as novel enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase inhibitors for the treatment of tuberculosis

The enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is an attractive target for developing novel antitubercular agents. A series of gallic acid formazans, were computationally designed and docked into the active site of InhA to understand their binding mode and potential to inhibit InhA. Nine compounds from the designed series were identified as potential InhA inhibitors, on the basis of good Glide score. These compounds were synthesized in the laboratory and evaluated for in vitro antitubercular activity against drug-sensitive and multi-drug resistant strains of MTB. Out of nine compounds, three compounds exhibited the most promising MIC of <2μM against the sensitive strain of MTB, H37Rv. The compounds were evaluated against five resistant strains of MTB. Most of the compounds exhibited activity superior to the standard, linezolid, against all these resistant strains. The mechanism of action of these compounds was concluded to be InhA inhibition, through InhA enzyme inhibition study. Insignificant cytotoxicity of these compounds was observed on RAW 264.7 cell line. Inactivity of all these compounds against gram positive and gram negative bacteria indicated their specificity against MTB. The compounds were further analyzed for ADME properties and showed potential as good oral drug candidates. The results clearly identified some novel, selective and specific InhA inhibitors against sensitive and resistant strains of MTB.

Mycobacterial cell wall biosynthesis: a multifaceted antibiotic target

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB), is recognized as a global health emergency as promoted by the World Health Organization. Over 1 million deaths per year, along with the emergence of multi- and extensively-drug resistant strains of Mtb, have triggered intensive research into the pathogenicity and biochemistry of this microorganism, guiding the development of anti-TB chemotherapeutic agents. The essential mycobacterial cell wall, sharing some common features with all bacteria, represents an apparent ‘Achilles heel’ that has been targeted by TB chemotherapy since the advent of TB treatment. This complex structure composed of three distinct layers, peptidoglycan, arabinogalactan and mycolic acids, is vital in supporting cell growth, virulence and providing a barrier to antibiotics. The fundamental nature of cell wall synthesis and assembly has rendered the mycobacterial cell wall as the most widely exploited target of anti-TB drugs. This review provides an overview of the biosynthesis of the prominent cell wall components, highlighting the inhibitory mechanisms of existing clinical drugs and illustrating the potential of other unexploited enzymes as future drug targets.

Adaptive response of Rhodococcus opacus PWD4 to salt and phenolic stress on the level of mycolic acids

Mycolata form a group of Gram-positive bacteria with unique cell envelope structures that are known for their high tolerance against antibiotics and both aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. An important part of the unique surface structure of the mycolata is the presence of long chain α-alkyl-β-hydroxy fatty acids, the mycolic acids. In order to investigate the adaptive changes in the mycolic acid composition, we investigated the composition of mycolic acids during the response both to osmotic stress caused by NaCl and to 4-chlorophenol in Rhodococcus opacus PWD4. This bacterium was chosen as it is known to adapt to different kinds of stresses. In addition, it is a potential biocatalyst in bioremediation as well as for biotechnological applications. In the present study, cells of R. opacus PWD4, grown in liquid cultures, responded to toxic concentrations of NaCl by increasing the ratio between mycolic acids and membrane phospholipid fatty acids (MA/PLFA-ratio). Cells reacted to both NaCl and 4-chlorophenol by decreasing both the average chain length and the unsaturation index of their mycolic acids. These changes in mycolic acid composition correlated with increases in cell surface hydrophobicity and saturation of membrane fatty acids, demonstrating the relation between mycolic acid and phospholipid synthesis and their contribution to cell surface properties of R. opacus PWD4.

Pathogenic mycobacteria achieve cellular persistence by inhibiting the Niemann-Pick Type C disease cellular pathway

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis remains a major global health concern. The ability to prevent phagosome-lysosome fusion is a key mechanism by which intracellular mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, achieve long-term persistence within host cells. The mechanisms underpinning this key intracellular pro-survival strategy remain incompletely understood. Host macrophages infected with persistent mycobacteria share phenotypic similarities with cells taken from patients suffering from Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC), a rare lysosomal storage disease in which endocytic trafficking defects and lipid accumulation within the lysosome lead to cell dysfunction and cell death. We investigated whether these shared phenotypes reflected an underlying mechanistic connection between mycobacterial intracellular persistence and the host cell pathway dysfunctional in NPC.

METHODS

The induction of NPC phenotypes in macrophages from wild-type mice or obtained from healthy human donors was assessed via infection with mycobacteria and subsequent measurement of lipid levels and intracellular calcium homeostasis. The effect of NPC therapeutics on intracellular mycobacterial load was also assessed.

RESULTS

Macrophages infected with persistent intracellular mycobacteria phenocopied NPC cells, exhibiting accumulation of multiple lipid types, reduced lysosomal Ca²⁺ levels, and defects in intracellular trafficking. These NPC phenotypes could also be induced using only lipids/glycomycolates from the mycobacterial cell wall. These data suggest that persistent intracellular mycobacteria inhibit the NPC pathway, likely via inhibition of the NPC1 protein, and subsequently induce altered acidic store Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Reduced lysosomal calcium levels may provide a mechanistic explanation for the reduced levels of phagosome-lysosome fusion in mycobacterial infection. Treatments capable of correcting defects in NPC mutant cells via modulation of host cell calcium were of benefit in promoting clearance of mycobacteria from infected host cells.

CONCLUSION 

These findings provide a novel mechanistic explanation for mycobacterial intracellular persistence, and suggest that targeting interactions between the mycobacteria and host cell pathways may provide a novel avenue for development of anti-TB therapies.

Pathogenic mycobacteria achieve cellular persistence by inhibiting the Niemann-Pick Type C disease cellular pathway

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis remains a major global health concern. The ability to prevent phagosome-lysosome fusion is a key mechanism by which intracellular mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, achieve long-term persistence within host cells. The mechanisms underpinning this key intracellular pro-survival strategy remain incompletely understood. Host macrophages infected with persistent mycobacteria share phenotypic similarities with cells taken from patients suffering from Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC), a rare lysosomal storage disease in which endocytic trafficking defects and lipid accumulation within the lysosome lead to cell dysfunction and cell death. We investigated whether these shared phenotypes reflected an underlying mechanistic connection between mycobacterial intracellular persistence and the host cell pathway dysfunctional in NPC.

METHODS

The induction of NPC phenotypes in macrophages from wild-type mice or obtained from healthy human donors was assessed via infection with mycobacteria and subsequent measurement of lipid levels and intracellular calcium homeostasis. The effect of NPC therapeutics on intracellular mycobacterial load was also assessed.

RESULTS

Macrophages infected with persistent intracellular mycobacteria phenocopied NPC cells, exhibiting accumulation of multiple lipid types, reduced lysosomal Ca2+ levels, and defects in intracellular trafficking. These NPC phenotypes could also be induced using only lipids/glycomycolates from the mycobacterial cell wall. These data suggest that persistent intracellular mycobacteria inhibit the NPC pathway, likely via inhibition of the NPC1 protein, and subsequently induce altered acidic store Ca2+ homeostasis. Reduced lysosomal calcium levels may provide a mechanistic explanation for the reduced levels of phagosome-lysosome fusion in mycobacterial infection. Treatments capable of correcting defects in NPC mutant cells via modulation of host cell calcium were of benefit in promoting clearance of mycobacteria from infected host cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide a novel mechanistic explanation for mycobacterial intracellular persistence, and suggest that targeting interactions between the mycobacteria and host cell pathways may provide a novel avenue for development of anti-TB therapies.

Structure, biosynthesis and function of unusual lipids A from nodule-inducing and N2-fixing bacteria

This review focuses on the chemistry and structures of (Brady)rhizobium lipids A, indispensable parts of lipopolysaccharides. These lipids contain unusual (ω-1) hydroxylated very long chain fatty acids, which are synthesized by a very limited group of bacteria, besides rhizobia. The significance and requirement of the very long chain fatty acids for outer membrane stability as well as the genetics of the synthesis pathway are discussed. The biological role of these fatty acids for bacterial life in extremely different environments (soil and intracellular space within nodules) is also considered.

Identification of a Desaturase Involved in Mycolic Acid Biosynthesis in Mycobacterium smegmatis

Mycolic acids are unique long chain fatty acids found in the cell walls of mycobacteria including the tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The introduction of double bonds in mycolic acids remains poorly understood, however, genes encoding two potential aerobic desaturases have been proposed to be involved in this process. Here we show that one of these genes, desA1, is essential for growth of the saprophytic Mycobacterium smegmatis. Depletion of desA1 in a M. smegmatis conditional mutant led to reduction of mycolic acid biosynthesis and loss of viability. The DesA1-depleted cells exhibited two other phenotypes: using ¹⁴[C]-labelling, we detected the accumulation of minor mycolic acid-related species that migrated faster in a silver TLC plate. Spiral Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopic analysis suggested the presence of species with sizes corresponding to what were likely monoenoic derivatives of α-mycolic acids. Additionally, conditional depletion led to the presence of free fatty acyl species of lengths ~C₂₆-C₄₈ in the lysing cells. Cell viability could be rescued in the conditional mutant by Mycobacterium tuberculosis desA1, highlighting the potential of desA1 as a new drug target in pathogenic mycobacteria.

Structure of the Essential Mtb FadD32 Enzyme: A Promising Drug Target for Treating Tuberculosis

Mycolic acids are indispensible lipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), and contribute to the distinctive architecture and impermeability of the mycobacterial cell envelope. FadD32 plays a pivotal role in mycolic acid biosynthesis by functionally linking fatty acid synthase (FAS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) biosynthetic pathways. FadD32, a fatty acyl-AMP ligase (FAAL), represents one of the best genetically and chemically validated new TB drug targets. We have determined the three-dimensional crystal structure of Mtb FadD32 in complex with a ligand specifically designed to stabilize the catalytically active adenylate-conformation, which provides a foundation for structure-based drug design efforts against this essential protein. The structure also captures the unique interactions of a FAAL-specific insertion sequence and provides insight into the specificity and mechanism of fatty acid transfer.

Mycoloyltransferases: A large and major family of enzymes shaping the cell envelope of Corynebacteriales

Mycobacterium and Corynebacterium are important genera of the Corynebacteriales order, the members of which are characterized by an atypical diderm cell envelope. Indeed the cytoplasmic membrane of these bacteria is surrounded by a thick mycolic acid-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan (mAGP) covalent polymer. The mycolic acid-containing part of this complex associates with other lipids (mainly trehalose monomycolate (TMM) and trehalose dimycolate (TDM)) to form an outer membrane. The metabolism of mycolates in the cell envelope is governed by esterases called mycoloyltransferases that catalyze the transfer of mycoloyl chains from TMM to another TMM molecule or to other acceptors such as the terminal arabinoses of arabinogalactan or specific polypeptides. In this review we present an overview of this family of Corynebacteriales enzymes, starting with their expression, localization, structure and activity to finally discuss their putative functions in the cell. In addition, we show that Corynebacteriales possess multiple mycoloyltransferases encoding genes in their genome. The reason for this multiplicity is not known, as their function in mycolates biogenesis appear to be only partially redundant. It is thus possible that, in some species living in specific environments, some mycoloyltransferases have evolved to gain some new functions. In any case, the few characterized mycoloyltransferases are very important for the bacterial physiology and are also involved in adaptation in the host where they constitute major secreted antigens. Although not discussed in this review, all these functions make them interesting targets for the discovery of new antibiotics and promising vaccines candidates. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Science for Life" Guest Editor: Dr. Austen Angell, Dr. Salvatore Magazù and Dr. Federica Migliardo.

Quantifying Limits on Replication, Death, and Quiescence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Mice

When an individual is exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) three outcomes are possible: bacterial clearance, active disease, or latent infection. It is generally believed that most individuals exposed to Mtb become latently infected and carry the mycobacteria for life. How Mtb is maintained during this latent infection remains largely unknown. During an Mtb infection in mice, there is a phase of rapid increase in bacterial numbers in the murine lungs within the first 3 weeks, and then bacterial numbers either stabilize or increase slowly over the period of many months. It has been debated whether the relatively constant numbers of bacteria in the chronic infection result from latent (dormant, quiescent), non-replicating bacteria, or whether the observed Mtb cell numbers are due to balance between rapid replication and death. A recent study of mice, infected with a Mtb strain carrying an unstable plasmid, showed that during the chronic phase, Mtb was replicating at significant rates. Using experimental data from this study and mathematical modeling we investigated the limits of the rates of bacterial replication, death, and quiescence during Mtb infection of mice. First, we found that to explain the data the rates of bacterial replication and death could not be constant and had to decrease with time since infection unless there were large changes in plasmid segregation probability over time. While a decrease in the rate of Mtb replication with time since infection was expected due to depletion of host's resources, a decrease in the Mtb death rate was counterintuitive since Mtb-specific immune response, appearing in the lungs 3–4 weeks after infection, should increase removal of bacteria. Interestingly, we found no significant correlation between estimated rates of Mtb replication and death suggesting the decline in these rates was driven by independent mechanisms. Second, we found that the data could not be explained by assuming that bacteria do not die, suggesting that some removal of bacteria from lungs of these mice had to occur even though the total bacterial counts in these mice always increased over time. Third and finally, we showed that to explain the data the majority of bacterial cells (at least ~60%) must be replicating in the chronic phase of infection further challenging widespread belief of nonreplicating Mtb in latency. Our predictions were robust to some changes in the structure of the model, for example, when the loss of plasmid-bearing cells was mainly due to high fitness cost of the plasmid. Further studies should determine if more mechanistic models for Mtb dynamics are also able to accurately explain these data.

Comparing isogenic strains of Beijing genotype Mycobacterium tuberculosis after acquisition of Isoniazid resistance: A proteomics approach

We determined differences in the protein abundance among two isogenic strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) with different Isoniazid (INH) susceptibility profiles. The strains were isolated from a pulmonary tuberculosis patient before and after drug treatment. LC‐MS/MS analysis identified 46 Mtb proteins with altered abundance after INH resistance acquisition. Protein abundance comparisons were done evaluating the different bacterial cellular fractions (membrane, cytosol, cell wall and secreted proteins). MS data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002986.

The Role of Biotin in Bacterial Physiology and Virulence: a Novel Antibiotic Target for Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Biotin is an essential cofactor for enzymes present in key metabolic pathways such as fatty acid biosynthesis, replenishment of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and amino acid metabolism. Biotin is synthesized de novo in microorganisms, plants, and fungi, but this metabolic activity is absent in mammals, making biotin biosynthesis an attractive target for antibiotic discovery. In particular, biotin biosynthesis plays important metabolic roles as the sole source of biotin in all stages of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis life cycle due to the lack of a transporter for scavenging exogenous biotin. Biotin is intimately associated with lipid synthesis where the products form key components of the mycobacterial cell membrane that are critical for bacterial survival and pathogenesis. In this review we discuss the central role of biotin in bacterial physiology and highlight studies that demonstrate the importance of its biosynthesis for virulence. The structural biology of the known biotin synthetic enzymes is described alongside studies using structure-guided design, phenotypic screening, and fragment-based approaches to drug discovery as routes to new antituberculosis agents.

Genetics of Mycobacterial Trehalose Metabolism

Trehalose [alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→1)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside] is a highly abundant disaccharide in mycobacteria that fulfills many biological roles and has a plethora of possible metabolic fates. Trehalose is synthesized in mycobacteria de novo either from glycolytic intermediates or from alpha-glucans via two alternative routes, the OtsA-OtsB and the TreY-TreZ pathways, respectively. Intracellular trehalose can serve as an endogenous remobilizable carbon storage compound and as a biocompatible stress protectant. Furthermore, trehalose functions as the sugar core of many glycolipids with important structural or immunomodulatory functions such as the cord factor trehalose dimycolate, sulfolipids, and polyacyltrehalose. Moreover, trehalose plays a central role in the formation of the mycolic acid cell wall layer because it serves as a carrier molecule that shuttles mycolic acids in the form of the glycolipid trehalose monomycolate between the cytoplasm and the periplasm. In this process, a specific importer recycles the free trehalose that is extracellularly released as a by-product during mycolate processing via the antigen 85 complex, which might represent a specific adaptation to the intracellular lifestyle of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with limited carbohydrate availability. Finally, trehalose is converted to glycogen-like branched alpha-glucans by a four-step metabolic pathway involving the essential maltosyltransferase GlgE, which may be further processed to derivatives with intracellular or extracellular destinations such as polymethylated lipopolysaccharides or capsular alpha-glucans, respectively. In this article we summarize the current knowledge of the genetic basis of trehalose biosynthesis and metabolism in mycobacteria, the biological functions of trehalose-based molecules, and their roles in virulence of the human pathogen M. tuberculosis.

Mycobacterial Biofilms

Bacteria have a natural propensity to grow as sessile, matrix-encapsulated, multicellular communities called biofilms. Formation of biofilms proceeds through genetically programmed, distinct developmental stages signaled by intricate networks of communication among the constituent population and their environment. Growing in the complex and heterogeneous microenvironments of biofilms, the resident bacteria acquire unique phenotypes that are generally not associated with their planktonic counterparts. Most notable among these is an extraordinary level of tolerance to a variety of environmental stresses, including antibiotics. Although mycobacteria have long been observed to spontaneously form complex multicellular structures in vitro, it has only recently become apparent that these structures are not only formed through dedicated genetic pathways but are also tolerant to antibiotics. In this article, we review the recent advances in the understanding of mycobacterial biofilms in vitro. We further consider the possible linkage between biofilm-like lifestyles and characteristic persistence of mycobacterial infections against host-defense mechanisms as well as antibiotics.

Systematic Survey of Serine Hydrolase Activity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Defines Changes Associated with Persistence

The transition from replication to non-replication underlies much of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) pathogenesis, as non- or slowly replicating Mtb are responsible for persistence and poor treatment outcomes. Therapeutic targeting of non-replicating populations is a priority for tuberculosis treatment, but few drug targets in non-replicating Mtb are currently known. Here, we directly measured the activity of the highly diverse and druggable serine hydrolases (SHs) during active replication and non-replication using activity-based proteomics. We predict SH activity for 78 proteins, including 27 proteins with unknown function, and identify 37 SHs that remain active in the absence of replication, providing a set of candidate persistence targets. Non-replication was associated with major shifts in SH activity. These activity changes were largely independent of SH abundance, indicating extensive post-translational regulation of SHs. By probing a large cross-section of druggable Mtb enzyme space during replication and non-replication, we identify new SHs and suggest new persistence targets.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis AtsG (Rv0296c), GlmU (Rv1018c) and SahH (Rv3248c) Proteins Function as the Human IL-8-Binding Effectors and Contribute to Pathogen Entry into Human Neutrophils

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an extremely successful intracellular pathogen that has evolved a broad spectrum of pathogenic mechanisms that enable its manipulation of host defense elements and its survival in the hostile environment inside phagocytes. Cellular influx into the site of mycobacterial entry is mediated by a variety of chemokines, including interleukin-8 (IL-8), and the innate cytokine network is critical for the development of an adaptive immune response and infection control. Using affinity chromatography, liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and surface plasmon resonance techniques, we identified M. tuberculosis AtsG arylsulphatase, bifunctional glucosamine-1-phosphate acetyltransferase and N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GlmU) and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SahH) as the pathogen proteins that bind to human IL-8. The interactions of all of the identified proteins (AtsG, GlmU and SahH) with IL-8 were characterized by high binding affinity with K_D values of 6.83x10^-6 M, 5.24x10^-6 M and 7.14x10^-10 M, respectively. Furthermore, the construction of Mtb mutant strains overproducing AtsG, GlmU or SahH allowed determination of the contribution of these proteins to mycobacterial entry into human neutrophils. The significantly increased number of intracellularly located bacilli of the overproducing M. tuberculosis mutant strains compared with those of “wild-type” M. tuberculosis and the binding interaction of AtsG, GlmU and SahH proteins with human IL-8 may indicate that these proteins participate in the modulation of the early events of infection with tubercle bacilli and could affect pathogen attachment to target cells.

The Global Reciprocal Reprogramming between Mycobacteriophage SWU1 and Mycobacterium Reveals the Molecular Strategy of Subversion and Promotion of Phage Infection

Bacteriophages are the viruses of bacteria, which have contributed extensively to our understanding of life and modern biology. The phage-mediated bacterial growth inhibition represents immense untapped source for novel antimicrobials. Insights into the interaction between mycobacteriophage and Mycobacterium host will inform better utilizing of mycobacteriophage. In this study, RNA sequencing technology (RNA-seq) was used to explore the global response of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc²155 at an early phase of infection with mycobacteriophage SWU1, key host metabolic processes of M. smegmatis mc²155 shut off by SWU1, and the responsible phage proteins. The results of RNA-seq were confirmed by Real-time PCR and functional assay. 1174 genes of M. smegmatis mc²155 (16.9% of the entire encoding capacity) were differentially regulated by phage infection. These genes belong to six functional categories: (i) signal transduction, (ii) cell energetics, (iii) cell wall biosynthesis, (iv) DNA, RNA, and protein biosynthesis, (v) iron uptake, (vi) central metabolism. The transcription patterns of phage SWU1 were also characterized. This study provided the first global glimpse of the reciprocal reprogramming between the mycobacteriophage and Mycobacterium host.

Molecular docking studies on InhA, MabA and PanK enzymes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis of ellagic acid derivatives from Ludwigia adscendens and Trewia nudiflora

Purpose

There is an urgent need to discover and develop new drugs to combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) in humans. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the discovery of new anti-TB agents from natural sources. In the present investigation, molecular docking studies were carried out on two ellagic acid derivatives, namely pteleoellagic acid (1) isolated from Ludwigia adscendens, and 3,3′-di-O-methyl ellagic acid 4-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2) isolated from Trewia nudiflora, to investigate their binding to two enzymes involved in M. tuberculosis cell wall biogenesis, namely 2-trans-enoyl-ACP reductase (InhA) and β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase (MabA), and to pantothenate kinase (PanK type I) involved in the biosynthesis of coenzyme A, essential for the growth of M. tuberculosis.

Methods

Molecular docking experiments were performed using AutoDock Vina.

The crystal structures of InhA, MabA and PanK were retrieved from the RCSB Protein Data Bank (PDB). Isonicotinic-acyl-NADH for InhA and MabA, and triazole inhibitory compound for PanK, were used as references.

Results

Pteleoellagic acid showed a high docking score, estimated binding free energy of −9.4 kcal/mol, for the MabA enzyme comparable to the reference compound isonicotinic-acyl-NADH.

Conclusions

Knowledge on the molecular interactions of ellagic acid derivatives with essential M. tuberculosis targets could prove a useful tool for the design and development of future anti-TB drugs.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40203-015-0014-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Adjuvants and lymphoma risk as part of the ASIA spectrum

The emerging epidemic of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas worldwide continues to defy our understanding and forces the search for the causative factors. Adjuvants are known to act as triggers of immune and inflammatory responses. Animal experiments have demonstrated that long-term inflammation is related to aggravation of the immune network resulting in cellular and humoral responses leading to autoimmunity and lymphoma development. Chronic stimulation of the immune system is thought to be the key mechanism through which infectious diseases as well as autoimmune diseases can lead to lymphomagenesis. Many adjuvants can act similarly perturbing immune system's function, inducing a state of prolonged immune activation related to chronic lymphatic drainage. Several mechanisms were proposed by which adjuvants induce inflammation, and they are discussed herein. Some of them are triggering inflammasome; others bind DNA, lipid moieties in cells, induce uric acid production or act as lipophilic and/or hydrophobic substances. The sustained inflammation increases the risk of genetic aberrations, where the initial polyclonal activation ends in monoclonality. The latter is the hallmark of malignant lymphoma. Thus, chronic adjuvant stimulation may lead to lymphoma.

Cell scale host-pathogen modeling: another branch in the evolution of constraint-based methods

Constraint-based models have become popular methods for systems biology as they enable the integration of complex, disparate datasets in a biologically cohesive framework that also supports the description of biological processes in terms of basic physicochemical constraints and relationships. The scope, scale, and application of genome scale models have grown from single cell bacteria to multi-cellular interaction modeling; host-pathogen modeling represents one of these examples at the current horizon of constraint-based methods. There are now a small number of examples of host-pathogen constraint-based models in the literature, however there has not yet been a definitive description of the methodology required for the functional integration of genome scale models in order to generate simulation capable host-pathogen models. Herein we outline a systematic procedure to produce functional host-pathogen models, highlighting steps which require debugging and iterative revisions in order to successfully build a functional model. The construction of such models will enable the exploration of host-pathogen interactions by leveraging the growing wealth of omic data in order to better understand mechanism of infection and identify novel therapeutic strategies.

High quality draft genome sequence of Corynebacterium ulceribovis type strain IMMIB-L1395(T) (DSM 45146(T))

Corynebacterium ulceribovis strain IMMIB L-1395(T) (= DSM 45146(T)) is an aerobic to facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile rod-shaped bacterium that was isolated from the skin of the udder of a cow, in Schleswig Holstein, Germany. The cell wall of C. ulceribovis contains corynemycolic acids. The cellular fatty acids are those described for the genus Corynebacterium, but tuberculostearic acid is not present. Here we describe the features of C. ulceribovis strain IMMIB L-1395(T), together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 2,300,451 bp long genome containing 2,104 protein-coding genes and 54 RNA-encoding genes and is part of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: the one thousand microbial genomes (KMG) project.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Is Resistant to Isoniazid at a Slow Growth Rate by Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in katG Codon Ser315

An important aim for improving TB treatment is to shorten the period of antibiotic therapy without increasing relapse rates or encouraging the development of antibiotic-resistant strains. In any M. tuberculosis population there is a proportion of bacteria that are drug-tolerant; this might be because of pre-existing populations of slow growing/non replicating bacteria that are protected from antibiotic action due to the expression of a phenotype that limits drug activity. We addressed this question by observing populations of either slow growing (constant 69.3h mean generation time) or fast growing bacilli (constant 23.1h mean generation time) in their response to the effects of isoniazid exposure, using controlled and defined growth in chemostats. Phenotypic differences were detected between the populations at the two growth rates including expression of efflux mechanisms and the involvement of antisense RNA/small RNA in the regulation of a drug-tolerant phenotype, which has not been explored previously for M. tuberculosis. Genotypic analyses showed that slow growing bacilli develop resistance to isoniazid through mutations specifically in katG codon Ser³¹⁵ which are present in approximately 50–90% of all isoniazid-resistant clinical isolates. The fast growing bacilli persisted as a mixed population with katG mutations distributed throughout the gene. Mutations in katG codon Ser³¹⁵ appear to have a fitness cost in vitro and particularly in fast growing cultures. Our results suggest a requirement for functional katG-encoded catalase-peroxide in the slow growers but not the fast-growing bacteria, which may explain why katG codon Ser³¹⁵ mutations are favoured in the slow growing cultures.

Comparative metabolic profiling of mce1 operon mutant vs wild-type Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains

Mycobacterium tuberculosis disrupted in a 13-gene operon (mce1) accumulates free mycolic acids (FM) in its cell wall and causes accelerated death in mice. Here, to more comprehensively analyze differences in their cell wall lipid composition, we used an untargeted metabolomics approach to compare the lipid profiles of wild-type and mce1 operon mutant strains. By liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we identified >400 distinct lipids significantly altered in the mce1 mutant compared to wild type. These lipids included decreased levels of saccharolipids and glycerophospholipids, and increased levels of alpha-, methoxy- and keto mycolic acids (MA), and hydroxyphthioceranic acid. The mutant showed reduced expression of mmpL8, mmpL10, stf0, pks2 and papA2 genes involved in transport and metabolism of lipids recognized to induce proinflammatory response; these lipids were found to be decreased in the mutant. In contrast, the transcripts of mmpL3, fasI, kasA, kasB, acpM and RV3451 involved in MA transport and metabolism increased; MA inhibits inflammatory response in macrophages. Since the mce1 operon is known to be regulated in intracellular M. tuberculosis, we speculate that the differences we observed in cell wall lipid metabolism and composition may affect host response to M. tuberculosis infection and determine the clinical outcome of such an infection.

Mycolic acids: deciphering and targeting the Achilles' heel of the tubercle bacillus

Mycolic acids are unique long chain fatty acids found in the lipid-rich cell walls of mycobacteria including the tubercle bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Essential for viability and virulence, enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of mycolic acids represent novel targets for drug development. This is particularly relevant to the impact on global health given the rise of multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of how mycolic acid are synthesised, especially the potential role of specialised fatty acid synthase complexes. Also, we examine the role of a recently reported mycolic acid transporter MmpL3 with reference to several reports of the targeting of this transporter by diverse compounds with anti-M. tuberculosis activity. Additionally, we consider recent findings that place mycolic acid biosynthesis in the context of the cell biology of the bacterium, viz its localisation and co-ordination with the bacterial cytoskeleton, and its role beyond maintaining cell envelope integrity.

Expression, purification and crystallization of the (3R)-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase HadAB complex from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The (3R)-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase HadAB, involved in the biosynthetic pathway for mycolic acid (MA) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, catalyzes the third step in the fatty acid (FA) elongation cycle, which is an ideal and actual target for anti-tubercular agent. Though HadAB is predicted to be a member of the hotdog superfamily, it shares no sequence identity with typical hotdog fold isoenzyme FabZ. To characterize the significance of HadAB from the perspective of structural biology, large amount of pure HadAB complex is required for biochemical characterization and crystallization. Here, we used a unique expression and purification method. HadA and HadB were cloned separately and co-expressed in Escherichia coli. After GST affinity chromatography, two steps of anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration, the purity of the protein as estimated by SDS-PAGE was >95%. Using hanging-drop vapor-diffusion method, crystals were obtained and diffracted X-rays to 1.75Å resolution. The crystal belongs to space group P41212, with unit-cell parameters a=b=82.0Å, c=139.8Å, α=β=γ=90.0°.