The research aims to work on the structural and functional aspects of the M. tb SUF operon to characterize each protein's role in forming the Fe-S complex at the molecular level.

All living organisms utilize proteins that contain an iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster as a prosthetic group for various cellular processes. Three different systems of bacterial origin are responsible for the biosynthesis of Fe-S clusters known as NIF (nitrogen fixation), ISC (iron-sulfur cluster), and SUF (sulfur mobilization).

ISC and SUF are complex, multi-component machinery, while the NIF system is less complex. The SUF system plays a vital role in pathogenic bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can acquire iron and resist oxidative bursts, the fundamental properties for bacterial initiation of infection.

SUF operon proteins play a crucial role in the Fe-S cluster biosynthesis during adverse stress conditions such as iron starvation and oxidative and heavy metal stresses.

Moreover, the SUF system plays a vital role in pathogenic bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can acquire iron and resist oxidative bursts, the fundamental properties for bacterial initiation of the infection.

Faculty: Dr. Rajan Vyas, Assistant Professor