Title:Bacterial Polyphosphate Kinases Revisited: Role in Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Potential
VOLUME: 20 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):Lalit Kumar Gautam, Prince Sharma and Neena Capalash*
Affiliation:Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, BMS Block-I, Sector- 25, Chandigarh, 160014, Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, BMS Block-I, Sector- 25, Chandigarh, 160014, Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, BMS Block-I, Sector- 25, Chandigarh, 160014
Keywords:Pathogenesis, virulence factors, stringent response, targeted inhibitor screening, PPK inhibitor, drug designing.
Abstract:Bacterial infections have always been an unrestrained challenge to the medical community
due to the rise of multi-drug tolerant and resistant strains. Pioneering work on Escherichia coli polyphosphate
kinase (PPK) by Arthur Kornberg has generated great interest in this polyphosphate (PolyP)
synthesizing enzyme. PPK has wide distribution among pathogens and is involved in promoting
pathogenesis, stress management and susceptibility to antibiotics. Further, the absence of a PPK
orthologue in humans makes it a potential drug target. This review covers the functional and structural
aspects of polyphosphate kinases in bacterial pathogens. A description of molecules being designed
against PPKs has been provided, challenges associated with PPK inhibitor design are highlighted and
the strategies to enable development of efficient drug against this enzyme have also been discussed.
