The Mycoplasma Metalloproteome (MycoMet)

Hugo Lebrette


CR CNRS
05 61 33 59 08

Team members

  Research engineer
  • Isabelle Bru
  Researcher
  • Hugo Lebrette
  Associate professor
  • Cecile Albenne
  PhD student
  • Gautier Piquet

Research programs

Presentation

Transition metals are required by all life forms to carry out central functions necessary for survival. Moreover, they are at the heart of the host-pathogen battle as the host immune system sequesters essential metals from pathogens. In order to acquire metals and maintain their metal homeostasis, microbial pathogens have developed vital mechanisms involving a range of proteins that constitute their metalloproteome. Bacteria of the Mycoplasma genus have amongst the smallest genomes known for an autonomously replicating cell. Through evolution, genomes of mycoplasmas underwent drastic reduction to select a minimal set of essential genes. As such, the metalloproteome of mycoplasmas might represent a minimal metalloproteome required to perform some of the most fundamental functions supporting life. Many mycoplasmas are pathogens of vertebrates that are alarming in the raise of antimicrobial resistance, e.g., the avian pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum and the human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae causing respiratory diseases. An attractive way to design drugs against these pathogens is to target essential components of their metalloproteome. However, microbial metalloproteomes are largely uncharacterized, especially in mycoplasmas. The MycoMet team aims to decipher the mechanisms of metal acquisition and utilization in the minimalist mycoplasma organisms through a multidisciplinary approach combining biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics and bioinformatics. The project will unravel new biochemical mechanisms and answer fundamental questions regarding the metal homeostasis and metalloenzyme chemistry essential to minimal microbial pathogens. Ultimately, the project will identify key components in the survival of mycoplasmas, thereby uncovering putative new drug targets in order to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Project MIMESIS - Deciphering the Minimal Metalloproteome Essential to Mycoplasma Survival (ANR website)

Project Structural dynamics of oxidoreductases crucial for the survival of human pathogens (FBF website)

SLAC article Shining light on the radical production of DNA building blocks (SLAC website)

Publications

Funding

       

Université Paul Sabatier
118 Route de Narbonne

31062 TOULOUSE Cedex
France


05 61 33 58 00

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