Title:Structure and Function of L,D- and D,D-Transpeptidase Family Enzymes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Volume: 27
Issue: 19
Author(s): Gideon F. Tolufashe, Victor T. Sabe, Colins U. Ibeji, Thandokuhle Ntombela, Thavendran Govender, Glenn E.M. Maguire, Hendrik G. Kruger, Gyanu Lamichhane and Bahareh Honarparvar*
Affiliation:
- Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001,South Africa
Keywords:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Peptidoglycan (PG), L, D-transpeptidase, D, D-transpeptidase,
drugs, enzymes.
Abstract: Peptidoglycan, the exoskeleton of bacterial cell and an essential barrier that protects
the cell, is synthesized by a pathway where the final steps are catalysed by transpeptidases.
Knowledge of the structure and function of these vital enzymes that generate this macromolecule
in M. tuberculosis could facilitate the development of potent lead compounds against tuberculosis.
This review summarizes the experimental and computational studies to date on these aspects
of transpeptidases in M. tuberculosis that have been identified and validated. The reported structures
of L,D- and D,D-transpeptidases, as well as their functionalities, are reviewed and the proposed
enzymatic mechanisms for L,D-transpeptidases are summarized. In addition, we provide
bioactivities of known tuberculosis drugs against these enzymes based on both experimental and
computational approaches. Advancing knowledge about these prominent targets supports the
development of new drugs with novel inhibition mechanisms overcoming the current need for
new drugs against tuberculosis.