Arabinosyltransferase is involved in arabinogalactan (AG) biosynthesis pathway in mycobacteria. AG is a component of the macromolecular assembly of the mycolyl-AG-peptidoglycan complex of the cell wall. This enzyme has important clinical applications as it is believed to be the target of the antimycobacterial drug Ethambutol [1].

1: The embAB genes of Mycobacterium avium encode an arabinosyl transferase involved in cell wall arabinan biosynthesis that is the target for the antimycobacterial drug ethambutol. Belanger AE, Besra GS, Ford ME, Mikusova K, Belisle JT, Brennan PJ, Inamine JM; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1996;93:11919-11924. PMID:8876238