Some proteins of M. tuberculosis that localise to the nucleus of THP-1-derived macrophages

Host-pathogen dialectics in tuberculosis (TB) via DNA-protein interactions are emerging. We investigated whether proteins produced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) could translocate to the host nucleus. Using lysates of nuclei purified from Mtb-infected THP-1-derived macrophages, we identified at least 15 proteins of Mtb-origin by electrophoretic and chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry. Western blotting confirmed time-dependent accumulation of Mtb EF-Tu, GroEL, GroES and MtrA in the host nucleus. MtrA could pull down at least 16 host proteins. Mtb proteins may have moonlighting functions that affect host gene expression.