Substrate specificity and substrate channeling properties of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis β-oxidation trifunctional enzyme complex (MtTFE)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are bacteria that cause the disease tuberculosis in humans. This disease primarily effects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body. There are various stages of infection where the bacteria are exposed to different environments and nutrients inside the cells of human host. Fats derived from the host have been shown to be important during certain stages of infection and are important for the survival of the bacteria. Here we have tried to understand how one of the enzymes from Mtb, which helps break down these fats, namely the trifunctional enzyme (TFE), works. We have conducted experiments that show that the Mtb TFE has a preference for certain types of fats and we propose a hypothesis on how this enzyme works.