UDP-GlcNAc pathway: Potential target for inhibitor discovery against M. tuberculosis. 2016

Chitra Rani, and Inshad Ali Khan
Clinical Microbiology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu Tawi 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu Tawi 180001, India.

In the past five years, an alarming increase in the number of patients with multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) has been reported, particularly in Eastern Europe, Asia and Southern Africa. Current situation has challenged the control and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) which sparked an emergent need to find new anti-tubercular agents with different chemical scaffolds and mechanisms of action. A very fruitful way to identify novel anti-tubercular agents is the development of compounds that target the enzymes essentially required for the biosynthesis and assembly of the mycobacterial cell wall. Biosynthesis of uridine diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) represents one such pathway. Enzymes involved in UDP-GlcNAc biosynthesis have been predicted to be essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in vitro. It is a key precursor molecule of M. tuberculosis cell wall, being situated at the branched point of two essential biosynthetic pathways, namely peptidoglycan and a disaccharide linker, D-N-GlcNAc-1-rhamnose. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the present knowledge on the enzymes catalyzing the particular steps of the pathway in M. tuberculosis, with special emphasis put on N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU), a bifunctional enzyme, which catalyzes the last two steps of this pathway. It also gives an insight into the present knowledge about the inhibitors reported against the enzymes, which could be further used as chemical scaffold for the discovery of more potent anti-TB compounds.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009169 Mycobacterium tuberculosis A species of gram-positive, aerobic bacteria that produces TUBERCULOSIS in humans, other primates, CATTLE; DOGS; and some other animals which have contact with humans. Growth tends to be in serpentine, cordlike masses in which the bacilli show a parallel orientation. Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv
D009713 Nucleotidyltransferases A class of enzymes that transfers nucleotidyl residues. EC 2.7.7. Nucleotidyltransferase
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000995 Antitubercular Agents Drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis. They are divided into two main classes: "first-line" agents, those with the greatest efficacy and acceptable degrees of toxicity used successfully in the great majority of cases; and "second-line" drugs used in drug-resistant cases or those in which some other patient-related condition has compromised the effectiveness of primary therapy. Anti-Tuberculosis Agent,Anti-Tuberculosis Agents,Anti-Tuberculosis Drug,Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs,Antitubercular Agent,Antitubercular Drug,Tuberculostatic Agent,Tuberculostatic Agents,Antitubercular Drugs,Agent, Anti-Tuberculosis,Agent, Antitubercular,Agent, Tuberculostatic,Anti Tuberculosis Agent,Anti Tuberculosis Agents,Anti Tuberculosis Drug,Anti Tuberculosis Drugs,Drug, Anti-Tuberculosis,Drug, Antitubercular
D015195 Drug Design The molecular designing of drugs for specific purposes (such as DNA-binding, enzyme inhibition, anti-cancer efficacy, etc.) based on knowledge of molecular properties such as activity of functional groups, molecular geometry, and electronic structure, and also on information cataloged on analogous molecules. Drug design is generally computer-assisted molecular modeling and does not include PHARMACOKINETICS, dosage analysis, or drug administration analysis. Computer-Aided Drug Design,Computerized Drug Design,Drug Modeling,Pharmaceutical Design,Computer Aided Drug Design,Computer-Aided Drug Designs,Computerized Drug Designs,Design, Pharmaceutical,Drug Design, Computer-Aided,Drug Design, Computerized,Drug Designs,Drug Modelings,Pharmaceutical Designs
D015398 Signal Transduction The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway. Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal

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