CCMB scientists develop genetic toolkit to shine light on TB’s inner workings
The scientists created a collection of 40 new shuttle vectors equipped with fluorescent markers, which make proteins glow under a microscope
Scientists at CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have developed a new genetic toolkit comprising 40 shuttle vectors with fluorescent markers. These markers make proteins glow under a microscope, allowing researchers to study the workings of the TB bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The toolkit enables scientists to switch genes on, track proteins inside bacterial cells, and investigate how different proteins work together.
Previous studies have shown that many genes in the TB bacterium remain poorly understood. By using specially designed DNA molecules called shuttle vectors, researchers can introduce genes into bacterial cells and study their functions. However, monitoring complex protein interactions within a cell has been challenging. The new toolkit addresses this issue by providing fluorescent markers like Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and 'mCherry', enabling researchers to observe protein locations and movements within bacterial cells.
The toolkit's ability to study multiple proteins simultaneously and a new purification method that reduces background contamination will significantly enhance efforts to understand the TB bacterium.
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