A Novel Copper Responsive Regulon in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains mpA and pafA

In this study, we report the identification of a five-locus copper-inducible regulon in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The identification of a copper responsive regulon unique to pathogenic Mycobacteria suggests copper homeostasis must be maintained during an infection. WT and mutant Mtb cells were grown in Sauton’s minimal media to early stationary phase (OD580 = 1.5) and treated with 500 mM copper sulfate (CuSO4) for four hours or the absence.