FhaA plays a key role in mycobacterial polar elongation and asymmetric growth

Mycobacteria, including pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, exhibit unique growth patterns and cell envelope structures that challenge our understanding of bacterial physiology. This study sheds light on FhaA, a conserved protein in Mycobacteriales, revealing its pivotal role in coordinating cell envelope biogenesis and asymmetric growth. The elucidation of the FhaA interactome in living mycobacterial cells reveals its participation in the protein network orchestrating cell envelope biogenesis and cell elongation/division. By manipulating FhaA levels, we uncovered its influence on cell morphology, cell envelope organization, and the localization of peptidoglycan biosynthesis machinery. Notably, fhaA deletion disrupted the characteristic asymmetric growth of mycobacteria, highlighting its importance in maintaining this distinctive feature. Our findings position FhaA as a key regulator in a complex protein network, orchestrating the asymmetric distribution and activity of cell envelope biosynthetic machinery. This work not only advances our understanding of mycobacterial growth mechanisms but also identifies FhaA as a potential target for future studies on cell envelope biogenesis and bacterial growth regulation. These insights into the fundamental biology of mycobacteria may pave the way for novel approaches to combat mycobacterial infections addressing the ongoing challenge of diseases like tuberculosis in global health.

Instituto de Biotecnología

Fil: Rossello, Jessica. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable and Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit; Uruguay

Fil: Rossello, Jessica. Universidad de la República and Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Advanced Bioimaging Unit; Uruguay

Fil: Rivera, Bernardina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable and Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit; Uruguay

Fil: Anzibar Fialho, Maximiliano. Universidad de la República and Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Advanced Bioimaging Unit; Uruguay

Fil: Augusto, Ingrid. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging. Precision Medicine Research Centre; Brasil

Fil: Gil, Magdalena. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable and Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit; Uruguay

Fil: Forrellad, Marina Andrea. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO); Argentina

Fil: Forrellad, Marina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Bigi, Fabiana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO); Argentina

Fil: Bigi, Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Rodríguez Taño, Azalia. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable and Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit; Uruguay

Fil: Rodríguez Taño, Azalia. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Química. Programa de Posgrado; Uruguay

Fil: Urdániz, Estefanía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; Argentina

Fil: Piuri, Mariana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; Argentina

Fil: Miranda, Kildare. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging. Precision Medicine Research Centre; Brasil

Fil: Wehenkel, Anne Marie. Université Paris Cité. Institut Pasteur. Bacterial Cell Cycle Mechanisms Unit; Francia

Fil: Alzari, Pedro M. Université Paris Cité. Institut Pasteur. Structural Microbiology Unit; Francia

Fil: Malacrida, Leonel. Universidad de la República and Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Advanced Bioimaging Unit; Uruguay

Fil: Malacrida, Leonel. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas. Departamento de Fisiopatología; Uruguay

Fil: Durán, Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable and Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit; Uruguay