Figure 1: Proposed pathway for the early steps of PIM biosynthesis in mycobacteria. | Nature Communications

Figure 1: Proposed pathway for the early steps of PIM biosynthesis in mycobacteria.

From: Structural basis for selective recognition of acyl chains by the membrane-associated acyltransferase PatA

Figure 1

(a) Chemical structure of PIM2/6 and their acylated forms Ac1/2PIM2 and Ac1/2PIM6. (b) The two pathways originally proposed for the biosynthesis of Ac1PIM2 in mycobacteria are shown: (i) PI is mannosylated to form PIM1. PIM1 is then mannosylated to PIM2, which is acylated to form Ac1PIM2; (ii) PIM1 is first acylated to Ac1PIM1 and then mannosylated to Ac1PIM2. Our experimental evidence indicates that although both pathways might co-exist in mycobacteria, the sequence of events PI→PIM1→PIM2→Ac1PIM2 is favoured. As an important part of the literature concerning PIMs studies refers to the nomenclature based on the Mtb H37Rv sequences, we also include the Rv numbers to identify the proteins.

Back to article page