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Biochemical and Biophysical Roles of Cell Surface Molecules pp 321–332Cite as

Vitamin C: A Natural Inhibitor of Cell Wall Functions and Stress Response in Mycobacteria

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1112))

Abstract

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has re-emerged as a threat to human race. Conventional antibiotic treatments are failing due to different stress response strategies adopted by bacterial pathogens. Since time immemorial, Vitamin C is known to protect against pathogens by boosting immunity in humans. Recently, Vitamin C has been shown to directly kill M. tuberculosis including multiple drug-resistant strains by generation of oxidative radicals through Fenton’s reaction. Concurrently, it inhibits (p)ppGpp-mediated stringent response thus effectively shutting down long-term survival and persistence in mycobacteria. Here, we have discussed historical perspective and recent evidences on Vitamin C-mediated inhibition of several key pathways of M. tuberculosis such as (p)ppGpp synthesis and mycobacterial cell wall function. Several cell wall components including mycolic acids are critical for mycobacterial virulence. We observed downregulation of various mycolic acids in M. smegmatis upon treatment with Vitamin C, and data have been presented here. Vitamin C has been shown to inhibit the biofilm growth as well as disrupt the formed biofilm in mycobacteria. Additionally, Vitamin C role in cell-mediated and humoral immunity has been elucidated. Vitamin C is toxic at high concentration; therefore we have proposed the idea of derivatizing Vitamin C in order to lower the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) necessary to target M. tuberculosis.

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Abbreviations

(p)ppGpp:

Guanosine tetraphosphate or guanosine pentaphosphate

C1q:

Complement component 1, q subcomponent

MDR:

Multidrug resistant

NK cells:

Natural killer cells

RF3:

Release factor 3

RNAP or RNA Pol:

RNA polymerase

RNS:

Reactive nitrogen species

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TLC:

Thin-layer chromatography

XDR:

Extensively drug resistant

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Acknowledgement

Authors acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, for funding the laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

    Kirtimaan Syal & Dipankar Chatterji

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  1. Kirtimaan Syal
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  2. Dipankar Chatterji
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Correspondence to Dipankar Chatterji .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India

    Kausik Chattopadhyay

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA

    Subhash C. Basu

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Syal, K., Chatterji, D. (2018). Vitamin C: A Natural Inhibitor of Cell Wall Functions and Stress Response in Mycobacteria. In: Chattopadhyay, K., Basu, S. (eds) Biochemical and Biophysical Roles of Cell Surface Molecules. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1112. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3065-0_22

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