Abstract 1363 Nudix diadenosine polyphosphatases from mycobacteria

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae contain diadenosine polyphosphatase, mRNA decapping Nudix hydrolases, and we are characterizing these enzymes as potential novel antibiotic targets. There is a primary and a secondary Nudix ApnAase in M. tuberculosis, and there are orthologs of these two enzymes in M. leprae. The ApnAases from Legionella pneumophilia and Bartonella bacilliformis are considered “invasion enzymes”; ApnAase knockouts for these bacteria are less able to invade their host cells.