Cryo-EM 3D structure of an anti-tuberculosis target

For the first time, the Cryo-EM 3D structure of an anti-tuberculosis target. And makes cover of Molecular Cell!

3D model of membrane enzyme AftD embedded in the membrane of mycobacterium, solved by cryogenic electron microscopy.

An international consortium led by the Fillipo Mancia lab, with a close collaboration of Margarida Archer lab (an IMpaCT member), was able to elucidate the Cryo-EM full-length Arabinofuranosyltransferase (AftD) protein architecture, which enabled the identification of important functional sites and revealed an unexpected tight association with an acyl carrier protein (ACP), that seems to act as a functional regulator of this enzyme.

An important step to better understand this essential enzyme involved in the cell envelop assembly of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Congratulations to all authors.

Go and check the paper: "Cryo-EM Structures and Regulation of Arabinofuranosyltransferase AftD from Mycobacteria"

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