title: N-thiolated beta-lactams: Studies on the mode of action and identification of a primary cellular target in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: This study focuses on the mechanism of action of N-alkylthio beta-lactams, a new family of antibacterial compounds that show promising activity against Staphylococcus and Bacillus microbes. Previous investigations have determined that these compounds are highly selective towards these bacteria, and possess completely unprecedented structure-activity profiles for a beta-lactam antibiotic. Unlike penicillin, which inhibits cell wall crosslinking proteins and affords a broad spectrum of bacteriocidal activity, these N-thiolated lactams are bacteriostatic in their behavior and act through a different mechanistic mode. Our current findings indicate that the compounds react rapidly within the bacterial cell with coenzyme A (CoA) through in vivo transfer of the N-thio group to produce an alkyl-CoA mixed disulfide species, which then interferes with fatty acid biosynthesis. Our studies on coenzyme A disulfide reductase show that the CoA thiol-redox buffer is not perturbed by these compounds; however, the lactams appear to act as prodrugs. The experimental evidence that these beta-lactams inhibit fatty acid biosynthesis in bacteria, and the elucidation of coenzyme A as a primary cellular target, offers opportunities for the discovery of other small organic compounds that can be developed as therapeutics for MRSA and anthrax infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, CHE 207, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Revell
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heldreth
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Seyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turos
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003065:Coenzyme A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004220:Disulfides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013886:Thiosulfonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013886:Thiosulfonic Acids; D047090:beta-Lactams; C017145:coenzyme A disulfide; D003065:Coenzyme A