Using steric hindrance to design new inhibitors of class C beta-lactamases

beta-lactamases confer resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins and cephalosporins. However, beta-lactams that form an acyl-intermediate with the enzyme but subsequently are hindered from forming a catalytically competent conformation seem to be inhibitors of beta-lactamases. This inhibition may be imparted by specific groups on the ubiquitous R(1) side chain of beta-lactams, such as the 2-amino-4-thiazolyl methoxyimino (ATMO) group common among third-generation cephalosporins. Using steric hindrance of deacylation as a design guide, penicillin and carbacephem substrates were converted into effective beta-lactamase inhibitors and antiresistance antibiotics. To investigate the structural bases of inhibition, the crystal structures of the acyl-adducts of the penicillin substrate amoxicillin and the new analogous inhibitor ATMO-penicillin were determined. ATMO-penicillin binds in a catalytically incompetent conformation resembling that adopted by third-generation cephalosporins, demonstrating the transferability of such sterically hindered groups in inhibitor design.     

Inhibition of Beta-Lactamase by 1,4-Naphthalenedione from the Plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Holoptelea integrifolia</Emphasis>

The most important mechanism of the beta-lactam antibiotic resistance is the destruction of the antibiotics by the enzyme beta-lactamase. Use of beta-lactamase inhibitors in combination with antibiotics is one of the successful antibacterial strategies. The inhibitory effect of a phytochemical, 1,4-naphthalenedione, isolated from the plant Holoptelea integrifolia on beta-lactamase is reported here. This compound was found to have a synergistic effect with the antibiotic amoxicillin against a resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus. The enzyme was purified from the organism and incubated with the compound. An assay showed that the compound can inhibit the enzymatic activity of beta-lactamase. Modeling and molecular docking studies indicated that the compound can fit into the active site of beta-lactamase. Hence, the compound can serve as a potential lead compound for the development of effective beta-lactamase inhibitor that can be used against beta-lactam-resistant microbial strains.     

Structure-based optimization of a non-beta-lactam lead results in inhibitors that do not up-regulate beta-lactamase expression in cell culture

Bacterial expression of beta-lactamases is the most widespread resistance mechanism to beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillins and cephalosporins. There is a pressing need for novel, non-beta-lactam inhibitors of these enzymes. One previously discovered novel inhibitor of the beta-lactamase AmpC, compound 1, has several favorable properties: it is chemically dissimilar to beta-lactams and is a noncovalent, competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. However, at 26 microM its activity is modest. Using the X-ray structure of the AmpC/1 complex as a template, 14 analogues were designed and synthesized. The most active of these, compound 10, had a K(i) of 1 microM, 26-fold better than the lead. To understand the origins of this improved activity, the structures of AmpC in complex with compound 10 and an analogue, compound 11, were determined by X-ray crystallography to 1.97 and 1.96 A, respectively. Compound 10 was active in cell culture, reversing resistance to the third generation cephalosporin ceftazidime in bacterial pathogens expressing AmpC. In contrast to beta-lactam-based inhibitors clavulanate and cefoxitin, compound 10 did not up-regulate beta-lactamase expression in cell culture but simply inhibited the enzyme expressed by the resistant bacteria. Its escape from this resistance mechanism derives from its dissimilarity to beta-lactam antibiotics.     

Energetic, structural, and antimicrobial analyses of beta-lactam side chain recognition by beta-lactamases

BACKGROUND: Penicillins and cephalosporins are among the most widely used and successful antibiotics. The emergence of resistance to these beta-lactams, most often through bacterial expression of beta-lactamases, threatens public health. To understand how beta-lactamases recognize their substrates, it would be helpful to know their binding energies. Unfortunately, these have been difficult to measure because beta-lactams form covalent adducts with beta-lactamases. This has complicated functional analyses and inhibitor design. RESULTS: To investigate the contribution to interaction energy of the key amide (R1) side chain of beta-lactam antibiotics, eight acylglycineboronic acids that bear the side chains of characteristic penicillins and cephalosporins, as well as four other analogs, were synthesized. These transition-state analogs form reversible adducts with serine beta-lactamases. Therefore, binding energies can be calculated directly from K(i) values. The K(i) values measured span four orders of magnitude against the Group I beta-lactamase AmpC and three orders of magnitude against the Group II beta-lactamase TEM-1. The acylglycineboronic acids have K(i) values as low as 20 nM against AmpC and as low as 390 nM against TEM-1. The inhibitors showed little activity against serine proteases, such as chymotrypsin. R1 side chains characteristic of beta-lactam inhibitors did not have better affinity for AmpC than did side chains characteristic of beta-lactam substrates. Two of the inhibitors reversed the resistance of pathogenic bacteria to beta-lactams in cell culture. Structures of two inhibitors in their complexes with AmpC were determined by X-ray crystallography to 1.90 A and 1.75 A resolution; these structures suggest interactions that are important to the affinity of the inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: Acylglycineboronic acids allow us to begin to dissect interaction energies between beta-lactam side chains and beta-lactamases. Surprisingly, there is little correlation between the affinity contributed by R1 side chains and their occurrence in beta-lactam inhibitors or beta-lactam substrates of serine beta-lactamases. Nevertheless, presented in acylglycineboronic acids, these side chains can lead to inhibitors with high affinities and specificities. The structures of their complexes with AmpC give a molecular context to their affinities and may guide the design of anti-resistance compounds in this series.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of a new beta-lactamase inhibitor and its metabolite in combination therapy with piperacillin in biological materials

[2S-(2 alpha,3 beta,5 alpha)]-3-Methyl-7-oxo-3-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl- methyl)-4-thia-1-azabicyclo [3.2.0]-heptane-2-carboxylic acid 4,4-dioxide (YTR-830H) is a new beta-lactamase inhibitor and the combination therapy of this compound with piperacillin is now under study. For the determination of the beta-lactamase inhibitor and piperacillin in biological materials, plasma and visceral tissue homogenates were deproteinized, whereas diluted urine and filtered faeces homogenates were treated with a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. In order to assay the inactive metabolite of beta-lactamase inhibitor, each sample was treated with a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. Aliquots of each preparation were chromatographed using ion-pair and reversed-phase chromatographic techniques on a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a UV detector, set at 220 nm. The detection limits of beta-lactamase inhibitor and piperacillin were 0.2 microgram/ml in plasma, 2.5-5.0 micrograms/ml in urine and 0.2-0.5 microgram/g in visceral tissue and faeces. Those of the metabolite were 1.0 microgram/ml in plasma, 2.5-5.0 micrograms/ml in urine and 1.0 microgram/g in visceral tissue and faeces. A precise and sensitive assay for the determination of the beta-lactamase inhibitor, its metabolite and piperacillin is described, and their stabilities in several media are reported.     

An Ion-Pairing High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography Assay for the Determination of Cefoperazone in Plasma and Urine

Abstract

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for cefoperazone (cfp) in plasma and urine is described. For analysis, the internal standard ticarcillin (ticar) is solvated in acetonitrile, which is then added to plasma or urine. The supernatant is drawn off of the resulting protein precipitate and injected directly onto the reverse-phase C₁₈ column, with detection at 254 nm. The mobile phase is composed of phosphate-acetonitrile-tetramethylammonium chloride (TMA). Coefficients of variation for reproducibility were less than 9% for extra-low, low, medium, and high controls. Limits of detection were 0.5 μG/mL for plasma and 1 μG/mL for urine. No interference from other cephalosporins or other antibiotics was found. This high-pressure liquid chromatographic ion-pairing assay is simple, accurate, inexpensive, and requires no extraction.     

Inhibition of class A beta-lactamases by carbapenems: crystallographic observation of two conformations of meropenem in SHV-1

Carbapenem antibiotics are often the "last resort" in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins. To understand why meropenem is resistant to hydrolysis by the SHV-1 class A beta-lactamase, the atomic structure of meropenem inactivated SHV-1 was solved to 1.05 A resolution. Two conformations of the Ser70 acylated intermediate are observed in the SHV-1-meropenem complex; the meropenem carbonyl oxygen atom of the acyl-enzyme is in the oxyanion hole in one conformation, while in the other conformation it is not. Although the structures of the SHV-1 apoenzyme and the SHV-1-meropenem complex are very similar (0.29 A rmsd for Calpha atoms), the orientation of the conserved Ser130 is different. Notably, the Ser130-OH group of the SHV-1-meropenem complex is directed toward Lys234Nz, while the Ser130-OH of the apo enzyme is oriented toward the Lys73 amino group. This altered position may affect proton transfer via Ser130 and the rate of hydrolysis. A most intriguing finding is the crystallographic detection of protonation of the Glu166 known to be involved in the deacylation mechanism. The critical deacylation water molecule has an additional hydrogen-bonding interaction with the OH group of meropenem's 6alpha-1 R-hydroxyethyl substituent. This interaction may weaken the nucleophilicity and/or change the direction of the lone pair of electrons of the water molecule and result in poor turnover of meropenem by the SHV-1 beta-lactamase. Using timed mass spectrometry, we further show that meropenem is covalently attached to SHV-1 beta-lactamase for at least 60 min. These observations explain key properties of meropenem's ability to resist hydrolysis by SHV-1 and lead to important insights regarding future carbapenem and beta-lactamase inhibitor design.     

反相高效液相色谱法同时测定多种头孢菌素的研究(I)

 建立了同时分离测定６种头孢菌素（头孢米诺、头孢羟氨苄、头孢克罗、头孢氨苄、头孢拉定和头孢西丁）的高效液相色谱法。流动相为Ｖ（５０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的磷酸二氢钾缓冲液,ｐＨ３．４）ｖＶ（乙腈）＝８７．５ｖ１２．５的混合液,色谱柱为ＨｙｐｅｒｓｉｌＯＤＳＣ１８５μｍ,２００ｍｍ×４．６ｍｍｉ．ｄ．,紫外检测波长为２５４ｎｍ,流速为１．０ｍＬ／ｍｉｎ。各个组分的线性范围：头孢米诺为１６４ｎｇ～１６．４μｇ,头孢羟氨苄为９９ｎｇ～９．９３４μｇ,头孢克罗为１０４ｎｇ～１０．３５８μｇ,头孢氨苄为１２２ｎｇ～１２．２２４。     

Diketene analogs as beta-lactamase inhibitor

Compounds having a structural analogy with diketene have been synthesized and their potencies as beta-lactamase inhibitors have been studied. Among six compounds so far tested, alpha-phenyl-beta-benzylidene-3-propanolide was shown to be an irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme. The availability of simple monocyclic compounds as beta-lactamase inhibitors is discussed.     

基于巯基嘌呤/多肽修饰的金纳米粒子的比色方法检测溶液中的镉离子

研究了一种基于双配体（巯基嘌呤（MP）和多肽CALNN）修饰金纳米粒子（AuNPs）的比色方法,用于快速、选择性地检测水溶液中的Cd2+。 其中,MP作为功能配体通过N原子与Cd2+发生配合作用,从而引起AuNPs聚集;CALNN配体有助于提高体系的稳定性和选择性。 当体系中无Cd2+时,溶液呈红色,随着Cd2+浓度的增加,溶液颜色逐渐由红色变为蓝紫色,这种颜色变化可以通过光谱测定还可以用肉眼直接观察。 该方法操作简便,具有较好的选择性和较快的响应速度（＜5 min）,其检测限达到350 nmol/L。     

Structure and Raman spectrum of clavulanic acid in aqueous solution

The calculation of the vibrational Raman spectrum of enzyme-bound beta-lactamase inhibitors may be of help to understand the mechanisms responsible for bacterial drug resistance. Here, we present a study of the solvation structure and the vibrational properties of clavulanate, an important beta-lactamase inhibitor, in aqueous solution as obtained from full quantum and hybrid empirical/quantum molecular dynamics simulations at ambient conditions. The analysis of the vibrational density of states indicates that hybrid empirical/quantum mechanical simulations are able to properly describe the vibrational levels of clavulanate in solution. In addition, we propose a computationally efficient protocol to calculate the vibrational Raman effect for large solute molecules in water, which is able to faithfully reproduce the experimentally recorded clavulanate Raman spectrum and discloses the possibility to employ hybrid simulations to assign the experimental Raman spectra of inhibitors bound to beta-lactamases.     

Use of Second Derivative Spectrophotometry For the Determination of Certain Cephalosporins and Their Acid-Induced Degradation Products In Combination

Abstract

Methods for determination of individual cephalosporins and their corresponding acid-induced degradation products are described, based upon second derivative spectrophotometry. Linear plots of D₂[dbnd](d²A/dλ²) values with negligible intercept were obtained versus concentration in the range of 0.4–2.4 mg% for both intact and degraded cephalosporins. Kinetic investigation of the cephalosporins degradation proved that the proposed method is applicable to stability determinations Compared with the official method the assay results of the different cephaiosporins pharmaceutical preparations were of equal accuracy (t-test) and reproducibility (F-test).     

Spectrophotometric determination of certain cephalosporins in pure form and in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple and reproducible spectrophotometeric method for the assay of cefotaxime sodium, cefuroxime sodium, and ceftriaxone disodium with metol-chromium(VI) reagent has been developed. The procedure is based on direct oxidation of metol by potassium dichromate in presence of drug in acidic medium and subsequent formation of ternary complex. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.2-28 microg ml(-1) at lambdamax 520 nm. For more accurate analysis, Ringbom optimum concentration range is found to be 0.8-26.5 microg ml(-1). The molar absorptivity and Sandell sensitivity were calculated. Six replicate analysis of solutions containing seven different concentrations of the examined drugs were carried out and gave a mean correlation coefficient < or =0.9996; the factors of the regression line equation for the three cephalosporins were calculated. The proposed method was applied to the determination of the examined drugs in pharmaceutical formulations and the results demonstrated that the method is equally accurate, precise, and reproducible as the official methods.     

Oxidative coupling for the spectrophotometric determination of certain cephalosporins and acetaminophen in drug formulations

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of some cephalosporins and acetaminophen is described. The method is based on the hydrolysis of the cephalosporin in sodium hydroxide solution to produce the sulphide ion and the conversion of the sulphide with the p-phenylenediamine to form a violet colour. Acetaminophen is hydrolysed in sulphuric solution and the resulting p-aminophenol is oxidized with sulphide ion in the presence of iron(III) to form a red product. The method has been successfully applied to the assay of some cephalosporins and acetaminophen in drug formulations.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of cefotaxime, desacetylcefotaxime and ceftriaxone in rat plasma

A simple and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the analysis of the cephalosporins cefotaxime (CXM), desacetylcefotaxime (DACXM) and ceftriaxone (CFX) in rat plasma. Plasma was deproteinized with methanol, and the supernatant was directly injected into the chromatograph and monitored at 254 nm. For determination of the unbound drugs, a centrifugal ultrafiltration method was employed. The calibration curves were linear (r = 0.999) from 2.5 to 500 micrograms/ml; the detection limits were 100 ng/ml for DACXM and 250 ng/ml for CXM and CFX. The method was not interfered with by other plasma components, nor by barbital sodium or caffeine, and has been applied to study the pharmacokinetics of the cephalosporins in rats.     

Highly selective fluoride sensing via chromogenic aggregation of a silyloxy-functionalized tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivative

A silyloxy-functionalized tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivative shows a remarkable change in the absorption spectrum on deprotection with fluoride ions. The reaction process is highly selective for fluoride and the resulting charge transfer band results in a bright green solution. A simple selective visual assay of aqueous fluoride ions was also obtained by the impregnation of cellulose strips with the TPE derivative.     

Structure-based design and in-parallel synthesis of inhibitors of AmpC beta-lactamase.

BACKGROUND: Group I beta-lactamases are a major cause of antibiotic resistance to beta-lactams such as penicillins and cephalosporins. These enzymes are only modestly affected by classic beta-lactam-based inhibitors, such as clavulanic acid. Conversely, small arylboronic acids inhibit these enzymes at sub-micromolar concentrations. Structural studies suggest these inhibitors bind to a well-defined cleft in the group I beta-lactamase AmpC; this cleft binds the ubiquitous R1 side chain of beta-lactams. Intriguingly, much of this cleft is left unoccupied by the small arylboronic acids. RESULTS: To investigate if larger boronic acids might take advantage of this cleft, structure-guided in-parallel synthesis was used to explore new inhibitors of AmpC. Twenty-eight derivatives of the lead compound, 3-aminophenylboronic acid, led to an inhibitor with 80-fold better binding (2; K(i) 83 nM). Molecular docking suggested orientations for this compound in the R1 cleft. Based on the docking results, 12 derivatives of 2 were synthesized, leading to inhibitors with K(i) values of 60 nM and with improved solubility. Several of these inhibitors reversed the resistance of nosocomial Gram-positive bacteria, though they showed little activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The X-ray crystal structure of compound 2 in complex with AmpC was subsequently determined to 2.1 A resolution. The placement of the proximal two-thirds of the inhibitor in the experimental structure corresponds with the docked structure, but a bond rotation leads to a distinctly different placement of the distal part of the inhibitor. In the experimental structure, the inhibitor interacts with conserved residues in the R1 cleft whose role in recognition has not been previously explored. CONCLUSIONS: Combining structure-based design with in-parallel synthesis allowed for the rapid exploration of inhibitor functionality in the R1 cleft of AmpC. The resulting inhibitors differ considerably from beta-lactams but nevertheless inhibit the enzyme well. The crystal structure of 2 (K(i) 83 nM) in complex with AmpC may guide exploration of a highly conserved, largely unexplored cleft, providing a template for further design against AmpC beta-lactamase.     

A Selective Colorimetric Method for the Determination of Penicillins and Cephalosporins with α-Aminoacyl Functions

ABSTRACT

A simple, sensitive and selective colorimetric method is described for the assay of ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, cefadroxil and cefaclor in their pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on measuring the color obtained when the alkaline degradation products of these agents are allowed to react with ascorbic acid. The factors affecting the color generation and determination were studied and optimized. The reaction is selective to β-lactam antibiotics having amino acid side-chains with free amino functions and thus allow interference-free quantitation of some preparations containing these agents in combination with other β-lactam agents. The procedure is also successfully adopted as stability-indicating method for cephalosporins. A tentative mechanism of the color reaction is proposed.     

Analytical investigations on cephalosporins--IV: application of Ellman's reagent

The application of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (Ellman's reagent) for the determination of microgram quantities of various selected cephalosporins in aqueous solution is described. Cephalosporin derivatives (cephalothin sodium, cephacetrile sodium, cefamandole lithium and nafate, cefoperazone sodium and ceftizoxime sodium) have to be treated with 0.5N sodium hydroxide before determination with Ellman's reagent, which reacts with free thiol groups. An aliquot of the solution is reacted with Ellman's reagent in pH 7.2 phosphate buffer and the absorbance of the resulting yellow solution is measured at 410 nm. The method, which is simple and precise, has been applied to determination of those cephalosporins in formulations, the results being compared with those obtained by the Ni-hydroxylamine method.     

Electrophoretic assay for penicillinase: substrate specificity screening by parallel CE with an active pixel sensor

We report application of a new UV imaging detector incorporating an active pixel sensor in an electrophoretic enzyme assay for penicillinase (beta-lactamase) with multiple substrates. The method based on electrophoretically mediated microanalysis was developed on a standard CE system with a single-point diode array detector and 200 nm UV wavelength, then transferred to a parallel capillary setup with the UV imaging detector for screening of penicillinase substrate specificity. One capillary is used for the assay and the other for reference, with an enzyme solution plug introduced into the first at the same time as a water plug into the second capillary. A mixture of antibiotics and markers is subsequently introduced as a sample plug to both capillaries, and driven through the enzyme (or water) plug by application of voltage. Most individual reactant and product peaks were separated and compounds amenable to beta-lactam hydrolysis could readily be identified and the extent of the reaction quantified within a single electrophoretic run.