Molecular characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">tlyA</Emphasis> gene product,Rv1694 of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>: A non-conventional hemolysin and a ribosomal RNA methyl transferase

Background  

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a virulent bacillus causing tuberculosis, a disease responsible for million deaths each year worldwide. In order to understand its mechanism of pathogenesis in humans and to help control tuberculosis, functions of numerous Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes are being characterized. In this study we report the dual functionality of tlyA gene product of Mycobacterium tuberculosis annotated as Rv1694, a 268 amino acid long basic protein.