InterPro domain: IPR011556

These sequences represent one of two highly dissimilar forms of glutamate--cysteine ligase (gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase), an enzyme of glutathione biosynthesis. The other group is represented by IPR006335 . This form is found in plants (with a probable transit peptide), root nodule and other bacteria, but not Escherichia coli and closely related species.

This entry includes EgtA from Actinobacteria, a glutamate--cysteine ligase involved in the synthesis of ergothioneine (ERG) [ 1 ], one of the major redox buffers that protects against redox stressors and in M. tuberculosis is essential for its virulence [ 2 ].

1. In vitro reconstitution of Mycobacterial ergothioneine biosynthesis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132, 6632-3
2. Ergothioneine Maintains Redox and Bioenergetic Homeostasis Essential for Drug Susceptibility and Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Cell Rep 14, 572-585