Sandbox Reserved 1053: Difference between revisions

The antigen 85 (ag85) complex in ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis,'' which is responsible for causing the disease Tuberculosis, is composed of three intracellular membrane proteins: Ag85A, B, and C. The Ag85 complex is a major component of the cell wall, with each protein catalyzing the transfer of important cell wall constituents into the membrane. <ref>PMID: 10655617</ref> The cell wall of ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' is composed of three primary molecules: peptidoglycans, arbinogalactans, and mycolic acids. Ag85C is of particular interest due to its transfer of mycolic acids, which is one of the major components in determining cell wall integrity. The mycolic acids are responsible for forming the outermost layer of the cell wall. Mycolic acids have a long fatty acid chain and exhibit extreme hydrophobicity, which effectively creates a hydrophobic envelope surrounding the bacterium. The hydrophobic envelope created by they mycolic acids creates a barrier against small hydrophilic molecules, such as Tuberculosis antibiotics. By targeting this mycoloyltransferase activity, inhibition of Ag85C offers potential for cell wall disruption and subsequent antibiotic targeting for normally drug-resistant ''Mycotaberia tuberculosis''. <ref>PMID: 10200974</ref>