Hexapeptide derivatives of glycopeptide antibiotics: tools for mechanism of action studies.
Hexapeptide (des-N-methylleucyl) derivatives of LY264826 were prepared in order to examine further the role of N-substituted hydrophobic side chains in defining the mechanisms of action of semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotics. The hexapeptide of LY264826 binds to the cell wall intermediate analog L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala with a 100-fold lower affinity than LY264826 and inhibits Micrococcus luteus almost 200-fold more poorly than LY264826 does. Alkylation of the 4-epi-vancosamine moiety of the disaccharide significantly enhanced the antibacterial activity of the hexapeptide. Alkylation did not affect the binding affinity for D-alanyl-D-alanine residues; however, it did enhance dimerization 7,000-fold and enhanced binding to bacterial membrane vesicles noticeably compared with the levels of dimerization and binding for the unsubstituted hexapeptide. The findings from this study complement those presented in an earlier report (N. E. Allen, D. L. LeTourneau, and J. N. Hobbs, Jr., J. Antibiot. 50:677-684, 1997) and are consistent with the conclusion that the enhanced antibacterial activities of semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotics derive from the ability of the hydrophobic side chain to markedly affect both dimerization and binding to bacterial membranes.
Infectious Diseases Research, Eli Lilly & Company, 14812 E. 77th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240. norrisallen@comcast.net
Norris E
NE
Allen
Deborah L
DL
LeTourneau
Joe N
JN
Hobbs
Richard C
RC
Thompson
D000465:Algorithms; D000478:Alkylation; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008566:Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016982:Micrococcus luteus / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C470185:LY 312607; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C057893:chloroorienticin A; D014640:Vancomycin