Ergothioneine is a secreted antioxidant in mycobacterium smegmatis

Date
2013-07
Authors
Emani, Carine Sao
Williams, Monique J.
Wiid, Ian J.
Hiten, Nicholas F.
Viljoen, Albertus J.
Pietersen, Ray-Dean D.
Van Helden, Paul D.
Baker, Bienyameen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Abstract
Ergothioneine (ERG) and mycothiol (MSH) are two low-molecular-weight thiols synthesized by mycobacteria. The role of MSH has been extensively investigated in mycobacteria; however, little is known about the role of ERG in mycobacterial physiology. In this study, quantification of ERG at various points in the growth cycle of Mycobacterium smegmatis revealed that a significant portion of ERG is found in the culture media, suggesting that it is actively secreted. A mutant of M. smegmatis lacking egtD (MSMEG_6247) was unable to synthesize ERG, confirming its role in ERG biosynthesis. Deletion of egtD from wild-type M. smegmatis and an MSH-deficient mutant did not affect their susceptibility to antibiotics tested in this study. The ERG- and MSH-deficient double mutant was significantly more sensitive to peroxide than either of the single mutants lacking either ERG or MSH, suggesting that both thiols play a role in protecting M. smegmatis against oxidative stress and that ERG is able to partly compensate for the loss of MSH.
Description
The original publication is available at http://aac.asm.org/
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
Ergothioneine, Mycobacterium smegmatis -- Effect of oxidative stress on, Biosynthesis, Oxidative stress, Antioxidant status of cells
Citation
Emani, C. S. et al. 2013. Ergothioneine is a secreted antioxidant in mycobacterium smegmatis. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 57(7):3202-3207, doi:10.1128/AAC.02572-12 .