Research progress on the regulation of inorganic phosphate transport and physiological functions by the Pst System in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
10.3969/j.issn.1006-2483.2026.04.029
- VernacularTitle:结核分枝杆菌Pst系统调控无机磷转运及生理功能的研究进展
- Author:
Huimin CAI
1
;
Shidong ZHAO
1
;
Yuwei SHAN
1
;
Jing ZHOU
2
;
Fan CHEN
2
Author Information
1. Life Science School of Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei 430062, China
2. Clinical laboratory of Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis;
inorganic phosphate;
Pst system;
drug resistance mechanism;
novel drug development
- From:
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
2026;37(4):139-145
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is an essential nutrient for bacterial growth, metabolism and signal regulation. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, encounters restricted Pi availability inside host cells. The uptake and utilization of Pi are mainly accomplished by the phosphate-specific transport (Pst) system. The survival and pathogenicity of Mtb rely on its precise sensing and adaptation to the hostile intracellular environment. The Pst system not only mediates bacterial drug resistance, toxin production and invasion, but also regulates virulence expression, membrane vesicle biogenesis and the synthesis of the nucleotide signaling molecule (p)ppGpp via the Pst-SenX3-RegX3 signaling axis, exhibiting typical multifunctional characteristics. As a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family, the Pst system in Mtb consists of PstS, PstC, PstA, PstB and PhoU-like proteins, with distinct physiological functions for different proteins and their isoforms.This review focuses on the molecular structure and function of key proteins in the Pst system, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying Pi transport regulation and bacterial drug resistance, providing a reference for further exploring the relationship between this system and drug resistance, as well as the development of novel drugs targeting the Pst system.
