Targeted screening for elongation factor Tu binding antibiotics.
The development of a screen targeted to antibiotics which bind elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) is described. The method was based on selection of antimicrobial activities which were antagonized by exogenous EF-Tu. Kirromycin, a known inhibitor of EF-Tu, was positive in this screen. Among 47,000 microorganisms screened, several producers of kirromycin-type antibiotics were detected and the novel antibiotics GE2270 and GE37468 were discovered. These thiopeptide molecules constitute, along with amithiamycin, a novel class of antibiotics acting on EF-Tu.
Selva
E
E
Lepetit Research Center, Gerenzano (VA), Italy.
Montanini
N
N
Stella
S
S
Soffientini
A
A
Gastaldo
L
L
Denaro
M
M
D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000378:metabolism; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011728:Pyridones / Q000032:analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu; C008536:mocimycin