Structure-based optimization of MurF inhibitors.
The D-Ala-D-Ala adding enzyme (MurF) from Streptococcus pneumoniae catalyzes the ATP-dependent formation of the UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide, a critical component of the bacterial cell wall. MurF is a potential target for antibacterial design because it is unique to bacteria and performs an essential non-redundant function in the bacterial cell. The recent discovery and subsequent cocrystal structure determination of MurF in complex with a new class of inhibitors served as a catalyst to begin a medicinal chemistry program aimed at improving their potency. We report here a multidisciplinary approach to this effort that allowed for rapid generation of cocrystal structures, thereby providing the crystallographic information critical for driving the inhibitor optimization process. This effort resulted in the discovery of low-nanomolar inhibitors of this bacterial enzyme.
Global Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Department of Structural Biology, Abbott Laboratories, 100 Abbott Park Road, Abbott Park, IL 60064, USA. geoffrey.stamper@abbott.com
Geoffrey F
GF
Stamper
Kenton L
KL
Longenecker
Elizabeth H
EH
Fry
Clarissa G
CG
Jakob
Alan S
AS
Florjancic
Yu-Gui
YG
Gu
David D
DD
Anderson
Curt S
CS
Cooper
Tianyuan
T
Zhang
Richard F
RF
Clark
Yingna
Y
Cia
Candace L
CL
Black-Schaefer
J
J
Owen McCall
Claude G
CG
Lerner
Philip J
PJ
Hajduk
Bruce A
BA
Beutel
Vincent S
VS
Stoll
D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008024:Ligands; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010453:Peptide Synthases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008024:Ligands; D013449:Sulfonamides; D010453:Peptide Synthases; C060628:UDP-N-acetylmuramoylalanyl-D-glutamyllysine-D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase