title: High-throughput screen for inhibitors of transglycosylase and/or transpeptidase activities of Escherichia coli penicillin binding protein 1b.
abstract: Penicillin binding protein (PBP) 1b of Escherichia coli has both transglycosylase and transpeptidase activities, which are attractive targets for the discovery of new antibacterial agents. A high-throughput assay that detects inhibitors of the PBPs was described previously, but it cannot distinguish them from inhibitors of the MraY, MurG, and lipid pyrophosphorylase. We report on a method that distinguishes inhibitors of both activities of the PBPs from those of the other three enzymes. Radioactive peptidoglycan was synthesized by using E. coli membranes. Following termination of the reaction the products were analyzed in three ways. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-coated scintillation proximity assay (SPA) beads were added to one set, and the same beads together with a detergent were added to a second set. Type A polyethylenimine-coated WGA-coated SPA beads were added to a third set. By comparison of the results of assays run in parallel under the first two conditions, inhibitors of the transpeptidase and transglycosylase could be distinguished from inhibitors of the other enzymes, as the inhibitors of the other enzymes showed similar inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) under both conditions but the inhibitors of the PBPs showed insignificant inhibition in the absence of detergent. Furthermore, comparison of the results of assays run under conditions two and three enabled the distinction of transpeptidase inhibitors. Penicillin and other beta-lactams showed insignificant inhibition with type A beads compared with that shown with WGA-coated SPA beads plus detergent. However, inhibitors of the other four enzymes (tunicamycin, nisin, bacitracin, and moenomycin) showed similar IC(50)s under both conditions. We show that the main PBP being measured under these conditions is PBP 1b. This screen can be used to find novel transglycosylase or transpeptidase inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca India Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore 560 024, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chandrakala
authors.forename: Radha K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Shandil
authors.forename: Upasana
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mehra
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravishankar
authors.forename: Parvinder
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Veeraraghavan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Usha
authors.forename: Bina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: Sunita M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: deSousa
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D012310:Ristocetin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014166:Transferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups); D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003902:Detergents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D012310:Ristocetin; D014640:Vancomycin; D014166:Transferases; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases; C064057:UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-N-acetylmuramyl-(pentapeptide)pyrophosphoryl-undecaprenol N-acetylglucosamine transferase; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups); C079803:mraY protein, Bacteria; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase