Mycopyranone: A 8,8ˈ-binaphthopyranone with potent anti-MRSA activity from the fungus Phialemoniopsis sp.

A new 8,8?-binaphthopyranone (mycopyranone, 1) was isolated from a solid fermentation of Phialemoniopsis sp. (fungal strain MSX61662), and the structure was elucidated via analysis of the NMR and HRESIMS data. The axial chirality of 1 was determined to be M by ECD. The central chirality at C-4/C-4? was assigned through a modified Mosher’s method, while the absolute configuration at C-3/C-3? was deduced based on analysis of the ³J_H-3-H-4 values and NOESY correlations. Compound 1 was evaluated for its antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus SA1199 and a clinically relevant methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain (MRSA USA300 LAC strain AH1263). Compound 1 inhibited the growth of both strains in a concentration dependent manner with IC₅₀ values in the low μM range. Molecular docking indicated that compound 1 binds to the FtsZ (tubulin-like) protein in the same pocket as viriditoxin (2), suggesting that 1 targets bacterial cell division.     

Interaction of FtsZ protein with a DPPE Langmuir film

FtsZ is the key protein in cell division in bacteria. We have proposed that lipid domains in the cytoplasmic membrane play a role in the localisation of FtsZ. In order to test this hypothesis, we used a model system based on Langmuir films to simulate the bacterial membrane. In this simple system we used a single phospholipid, dipalmytoylphosphatidylethanolamine, which is the major constituent of the inner membrane in Escherichia coli. The first results show clearly the importance of the GTP-controlled assembly process in the appearance of circular or fibrillar structures.     

3MBA类FtsZ蛋白抑制剂的分子动力学模拟及抗菌作用机制

采用分子动力学模拟、蛋白质二级结构测定(DSSP)、口袋体积测量(POVME)以及MM-PBSA(molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area)方法, 系统研究了金黄色葡萄球菌丝状温度敏感性蛋白Z (SaFtsZ)-二磷酸鸟苷(GDP)二元复合物和SaFtsZ-GDP-3MBA (3-甲氧基苯甲酰胺)类衍生物三元复合物体系的稳定性、蛋白质二级结构、蛋白质构象、关键残基质心距、活性口袋体积以及相对结合自由能的变化规律. 研究表明: 当不含抑制剂存在时SaFtsZ-GDP二元复合物体系稳定性较差, 其T7Loop区域残基(203-209)波动较大, 且蛋白二级结构发生明显变化, 活性口袋体积急剧减小, 底物通道显著变窄且不稳定. 而含有抑制剂PC190723、Compound1 的类衍生物三元复合物体系的表现截然不同, 这主要是由于它们均能和活性口袋T7Loop区周围残基形成关键性的氢键以及疏水作用, 与FtsZ 蛋白紧密结合. 在SaFtsZ-GDP-3MBA三元复合物体系中, 3MBA仅能与活性口袋中部分残基形成疏水作用, 与FtsZ 蛋白亲和力较弱, 使其不能稳定地存在于活性口袋中, 进一步导致它的抗菌活性明显低于PC190723、Compound1. 这些发现深入揭示了3MBA类衍生物对FtsZ 蛋白的作用机制和影响规律, 为该类FtsZ 蛋白抑制剂的结构优化和产品开发应用提供了重要的理论依据.     

大肠杆菌MinC/FtsZ蛋白复合物的纯化和结晶

大肠杆菌在细胞分裂时,FtsZ(Filamentous temperature-sensitive protein Z)蛋白会在细胞中部潜在位点聚合形成Z环,而MinC蛋白会抑制Z环形成,从而控制细胞分裂。本研究将min C与fts Z目的基因克隆到合适的载体中,并导入到大肠杆菌中进行表达,采用亲和层析和分子筛纯化的方法得到MinC/FtsZ复合物蛋白进行晶体筛选。通过FtsZ、MinC分别单独转化、表达纯化后混合和FtsZ、MinC共转化法两种方法得到FtsZ/MinC蛋白复合物,并分别对其进行晶体筛选。实验结果表明,在适宜的表达条件下,利用分别转化、纯化再混合的方法得到的FtsZ和MinC蛋白复合比例约为1∶1;混合时加入GTP和Mg Cl2可以促进复合物聚集态更单一,通过晶体筛选初步得到形状为针状的FtsZ/MinC复合蛋白晶体,为MinC/FtsZ复合物的结构解析提供实验基础。     

A combined CoMFA and CoMSIA 3D-QSAR study of benzamide type antibacterial inhibitors of the FtsZ protein in drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A major problem today is bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the small number of new therapeutic agents approved in recent years. The development of new antibiotics capable of acting on new targets is urgently required. The filamenting temperature-sensitive Z (FtsZ) bacterial protein is a key biomolecule for bacterial division and survival. This makes FtsZ an attractive new pharmacological target for the development of antibacterial agents. There have been several attempts to develop ligands able to inhibit FtsZ. Despite the large number of synthesized compounds that inhibit the FtsZ protein, there are no quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) that allow for the rational design and synthesis of promising new molecules. We present the first 3D-QSAR study of a large and diverse set of molecules that are able to inhibit the FtsZ bacterial protein. We summarize a set of chemical changes that can be made in the steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic and donor/acceptor hydrogen-bonding properties of the pharmacophore, to generate new bioactive molecules against FtsZ. These results provide a rational guide for the design and synthesis of promising new antibacterial agents, supported by the strong statistical parameters obtained from CoMFA (r²_pred = 0.974) and CoMSIA (r²_pred = 0.980) analyses.