New conformation of tuberculosis target protein FtsZ

What is it about?

As of 2017, tuberculosis has infected 1.7 billion people (23% of the world’s population) and has caused 10 million deaths. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is quickly evolving, and new strains are classified as multi-drug resistant. Thus, the development and discovery of new drugs to combat Mtb is vital to combat the drug-resistant strains. Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ), an important protein involved in cell-division is key for the survival of Mtb. Here, we have solved the crystal structure of MtbFtsZ that exhibit an inter-subunit that plays a biological role in the GTPase activity of MtbFtsZ and have elucidated a novel conformation, involving the T9 loop and the nucleotide binding pocket that breaks up the GTPase active site.

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Why is it important?

This novel conformation can serve as basis for the development of the novel drugs to combat tuberculosis.