Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ab85A Products

Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 85 is a complex of three related gene products of 30-31 kDa, Ag85A, B and C. These proteins are responsible for the high affinity of mycobacteria to fibronectin. All three proteins possesses a mycolyltransferase activity - which is required for the biogenesis of trehalose dimycolate (cord factor), a dominant structure necessary for maintaining cell wall integrity. Thus all three proteins are involved in the final stages of mycobacterial cell wall assembly.