Conditions affecting ergothioneine levels in Mycobacterium smegmatis & the attempted isolation of α-N, N, N-Histidine methyltransferase, the first enzyme in ergothioneine biosynthesis

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-133).Ergothioneine and mycothiol are the two major low molecular weight thiols present in mycobacteria. The generation of mycothiol-deficient mutants has demonstrated its role in protecting M tuberculosis against oxidative and nitrosative stress. To date, no ergothioneine-deficient mutants have been identified and the role of ergothioneine in mycobacteria remains unknown. The work in this thesis was performed with the aim of better understanding the function of ergothioneine in mycobacteria, by studying its biosynthesis and the conditions affecting its production