title: Antibacterial halogenoacetyl derivatives of amino acids and simple peptides.
abstract: The vital role of D-alanine and L-lysine in the peptidoglycan crosslinking process in the bacterial cell wall prompted preparation of various small peptides incorporating these amino acids. N-Iodoacetyl or -bromoacetyl derivatives of the peptides were then prepared in the hope that they would serve as active-site-directed irreversible inhibitors of cell wall transpeptidases. Certain of the halogenoacetyl dipeptide esters, but not the corresponding free acids, showed slight antistaphylococcal activity. Subsequent structural variation showed that inclusion of C-alanine or L-lysine was not necessary, since antibacterial activity was at least as good when the dipeptide unite was replaced by glycylglycine or by an omega-aminoalkanoic acid. It was concluded that the observed antibacterial activity was probably not due to specific inhibition of a cell wall transpeptidase.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004952:Esters; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004952:Esters; D010455:Peptides