Substrate-induced structural alterations of Mycobacterial mycothione reductase and critical residues involved

Redox homeostasis is a prerequisite for survival of the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) which employs the low molecular weight thiol mycothiol (MSH). The Mycobacterial NADPH-dependent mycothione reductase (MtMtr), composed of an NADPH-, FAD-, and a dimerization-domain connected by linkers, regulates the balance of oxidized–reduced MSH. Here, we demonstrate by small-angle X-ray scattering, that NADPH-binding alters the oligomeric state equilibrium of the protein with no significant overall structural change after MSH-binding. Mutation of critical residues in the linker regions of MtMtr eliminate partially or totally the NADPH-induced oligomerization effect with simultaneous effect on enzyme activity. The data provide insight into the MtMtr linker regions involved in the novel oligomerization equilibrium of the Mycobacterial enzyme.