Ectoine biosynthesis in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

A Novel Periplasmic Protein involved in the Mannan Chain Elongation Step of Lipomannan and Lipoarabinomannan Biosynthesis in Mycobacterium smegmatis

MICROBIAL TRANSFORMATION OF CHOLESTEROL BY MYCOBACTERIUM SMEGMATIS

Mycobacterium smegmatis PTCC 1307 (CIP 73.26) was used as a microbial agent to produce androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione, two useful precursors in the synthesis of steroid drugs. The side chain of cholesterol, as the substrate, was selectively cleaved in the presence of five enzyme inhibitors. An intermediate structure with intact side chain, cholest-4-ene-3-one, ...

Characterization and regulation of inositol monophosphatase activity in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related members of the genus Mycobacterium contain a number of inositol-based lipids, such as phosphatidylinositol mannosides, lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan. The synthesis of phosphatidylinositol in M. smegmatis is essential for growth and myo-inositol is a key metabolite for mycobacteria. Little is known about the biosynthesis of inositol in mycobacteria and t...

The alanine racemase of Mycobacterium smegmatis is essential for growth in the absence of D-alanine.

Alanine racemase, encoded by the gene alr, is an important enzyme in the synthesis of d-alanine for peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis with a deletion mutation of the alr gene were found to require d-alanine for growth in both rich and minimal media. This indicates that alanine racemase is the only source of d-alanine for cell wall biosynthesis in M. smegmatis and co...

Antimycobacterial activity of fruit of Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC against Mycobacterium smegmatis

Objective: Fruits of lemon pepper (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC., Rutaceae) have been traditionally used as a spice and in folk medicine for treatment of diarrhea and stomachache. Stomachache could be associated with mycobacterial infection. The present study was designed to investigate the activity of Z. acanthopodium fruits against a non-infectious Mycobacterium smegmatis and to identify the ...