# Evaluating mycothiolation of xenobiotics

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $186,425

## Abstract

Mycothiol (MSH) is a small molecular weight biomolecule used to modify drugs in the Actinobacteria
phylum. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) produces the greatest intracellular concentrations of this
unique thiol-containing biomolecule. Interest regarding MSH biosynthesis in Mtb is due to its
importance in redox homeostasis in the bacterium as well as the role of mycothiol in neutralizing
antibiotics used to treat Mtb infections. The mycothiol S-transferase (MST) enzyme that catalyzes the
conjugation of MSH to a variety of compounds has been identified. Considering the prominent role of
mycothiol in Mtb drug metabolism, a deeper understanding of the structure and function of MST will
lead to a clearer understanding of this important defense mechanism that promotes antibiotic
resistance in Mtb.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10132237
- **Project number:** 5R21AI151924-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Donald R Ronning
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $186,425
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10132237

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10132237, Evaluating mycothiolation of xenobiotics (5R21AI151924-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10132237. Licensed CC0.

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