Structural heterogeneity in DNA gyrases from Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

GyraseA (GyrA) subunit of DNA gyrase from mycobacteria has certain characteristics distinct from that of E. coli. Polyclonal antibodies produced against M. tuberculosis GyrA recognized GyrA from different slow and fast growing mycobacterial species and also from several Gram-positive bacteria. However, these antibodies did not cross-react with E. coli GyrA and the enzyme from other Gram-negative bacteria. The results from the present study together with multiple alignment, pairwise comparison and biochemical properties support the idea of the occurrence of two subclasses of gyrases in the bacterial kingdom, emphasizing the importance of the enzyme as a molecular target for the development of novel therapeutics.