In silico evidence for extensive Ser/Thr phosphorylation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis two-component signalling systems

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has the innate ability to adapt and survive the intracellular environments during infection. Two-component signalling (TCS) systems and serine (Ser)/threonine (Thr) protein kinases facilitate metabolic and growth adaptation by directing transcri­p­tomic reprogramming in response to environmental stimuli. Presently, little is known about the post-transla­tional regulation of TCS proteins through O-phospho­rylation. Using the NetPhosBac 1.0 in silico tool, we screened components of M. tuberculosis TCS systems for potential Ser/Thr phosphosites. We report extensive Ser/Thr phosphorylation of sensor kinases and response regulator proteins, suggesting that it might be a distinct mechanism enabling the co-regulation of pathways impac­ting adaptive changes in mycobacterial growth and meta­bolism