Differential roles for the Co2+/Ni2+ transporting ATPases, CtpD and CtpJ, in Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence

Abstract

The genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes two paralogous P1B4-ATPases, CtpD (Rv1469) and CtpJ (Rv3743). Both proteins showed ATPase activation by Co2+ and Ni2+, and both appear to be required for metal efflux from the cell. However, using a combination of biochemical and genetic studies we found that these proteins play non-redundant roles in virulence and metal efflux. CtpJ expression is induced by Co2+ and this protein possesses a relatively high turnover rate. A ctpJ deletion mutant accumulated Co2+, indicating that this ATPase controls cytoplasmic metal levels. In contrast, CtpD expression is induced by redox stressors and this protein displays a relatively low turnover rate. A ctpD mutant failed to accumulate metal, suggesting an alternative cellular function. ctpD is cotranscribed with two thioredoxin genes trxA (Rv1470), trxB (Rv1471), and an enoyl-coA hydratase (Rv1472), indicating a possible role for CtpD in the metallation of these redox-active proteins. Supporting this, in vitro metal binding assays showed that TrxA binds Co2+ and Ni2+. Mutation of ctpD, but not ctpJ, reduced bacterial fitness in the mouse lung, suggesting that redox maintenance, but not Co2+ accumulation, is important for growth in vivo.