Through comparative analyses using BLASTp and BLASTn of the 25 target sequences, our research identified two unique post-transcriptional modifiers, Rv1509 and Rv2231A, which serve as distinctive and characteristic proteins of M.tb - the Signature Proteins. Here, we have characterized these two signature proteins associated with pathophysiology of M.tb which may prove to be therapeutically important targets. Dynamic Light Scattering and Analytical Gel Filtration Chromatography exhibited that Rv1509 exists as a monomer while Rv2231A as a dimer in solution. Secondary structures were determined using Circular Dichroism and further validated through Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Both the proteins are capable of withstanding a wide range of temperature and pH variations. Fluorescence spectroscopy based binding affinity experiments showed that Rv1509 binds to iron and may promote organism growth by chelating iron. In the case of Rv2231A, a high affinity for its substrate RNA was observed, which is facilitated in presence of Mg2+ suggesting it might have RNAse activity, supporting the prediction through in-silico studies. This is the first study on biophysical characterization of these two therapeutically important proteins, Rv1509 and Rv2231A, providing important insights into their structure -function correlations which are crucial for development of new drugs/ early diagnostics tools targeting these proteins.
Keywords: Biophysical characterization; Drug target; Rv1509; Rv2231a; Signature proteins; Structural stability; Tuberculosis.
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