Evidences for zinc (II) and copper (II) ion interactions with Mycobacterium leprae HSP18: Effect on its structure and chaperone function

M. leprae HSP18 that helps in growth and survival of M. leprae pathogen, interacts with Zn2+ and Cu2+. The impact of Zn2+/Cu2+ interaction on its structure and chaperone function are distinctly opposite in nature. Possibly, “HSP18-bivalent metal ion interaction” plays a role in pathogenesis of M. leprae in human.111