MOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND INTERACTION STUDIES OF MECAAND SIGX IN STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes is a stern human pathogen causing deadly infections humans. Natural
competence and the ability of S. pyogenes to grow under varied environmental conditions is
mediated by alternate sigma factor SigX. However, SigX has been reported to be negatively
regulated by MecA, an adapter protein in S. mutans. In order to understand the interaction of
MecA and SigX at the molecular level in S. pyogenes, the structures of both these proteins are
imperative. This study aims at modelling the structures of SigX and MecA and understand their
mechanism of interaction by protein-protein docking studies.