The Type III Pantothenate Kinase Encoded by coaX Is Essential for Growth of Bacillus anthracis

In Bacillus anthracis, the novel type III pantothenate kinase (PanKBa; encoded by coaX) catalyzes the first committed step in coenzyme A biosynthesis. We have demonstrated by analyzing the growth characteristics of a conditional coaX mutant that PanKBa is an essential enzyme, thus contributing to its validation as a new antimicrobial target.