cis-2 and trans-2-eicosenoic Fatty Acids Inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis Virulence Factor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase B

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the potential inhibitory effect of eicosenoic fatty acids on protein tyrosine phosphatase B of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PtpB). PtpB is recognized to play a vital role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) successful latent infection. It prevents the fusion even between phagocytosed mycobacteria with lysosomes so that the bacteria escape from degradation. We have over-expressed recombinant Mtb PtpB within Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), and further, we have used the protein for inhibition assay with cis-2 and trans-eicosenoic fatty acids. It is revealed that at a concentration of 16 µM, cis-2- and trans-2-eicosenoic fatty acids can inhibit PtpB by 63.72% and 74.67%, respectively. Docking analysis has confirmed strong interactions of PtpB with cis-2 and trans-2-eicosenoic fatty acids, with the binding energy of -60.40 and -61.60 kcal/mol, respectively. These findings underline both fatty acids’ high potential to be further investigated to discover drugs against latent tuberculosis infection.