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Journal of Bacteriology, September 2006, p. 6669-6679, Vol. 188, No. 18
0021-9193/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00631-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Inactivation of Rv2525c, a Substrate of the Twin Arginine Translocation (Tat) System of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Increases ß-Lactam Susceptibility and Virulence

Brigitte Saint-Joanis,1 Caroline Demangel,1 Mary Jackson,2 Priscille Brodin,1 Laurent Marsollier,1 Helena Boshoff,3 and Stewart T. Cole1*

Unité de Génétique Moléculaire Bactérienne,1 Unité de Génétique Mycobactérienne, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France,2 Tuberculosis Research Section, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, 12441 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland 208523

Received 4 May 2006/ Accepted 7 July 2006

The twin arginine translocation (Tat) system is used by many bacteria to export fully folded proteins containing cofactors. Here, we show genetically that this system is essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as the tatAC operon and tatB genes could be inactivated only in partially diploid strains. Using comparative genomics, the rv2525c gene of M. tuberculosis was identified as encoding a histidine-rich protein, with a twin arginine signal peptide, and orthologous genes were shown to be present in several but not all actinobacterial species. Conservation of this gene by Mycobacterium leprae, which has undergone reductive evolution, suggested an important role for rv2525c. An rv2525c knockout mutant was constructed, and biochemical analysis indicated that the mature Rv2525c protein is secreted. Upon exposure to antituberculous drugs, rv2525c expression is significantly up-regulated together with those of other genes involved in cell wall biogenesis. Phenotypic comparison of the mutant with the parental strain revealed an increase in susceptibility to some ß-lactam antibiotics and, despite slower growth in vitro, enhanced virulence in both cellular and murine models of tuberculosis. The Tat system thus contributes in multiple ways to survival of the tubercle bacillus.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Unité de Génétique Moléculaire Bactérienne, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex, France. Phone: 33-1-45688446. Fax: 33-1-40613583. E-mail: stcole{at}pasteur.

Journal of Bacteriology, September 2006, p. 6669-6679, Vol. 188, No. 18
0021-9193/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00631-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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