Inhibition of glutamine synthetase: a potential drug target in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Molecules. 2014 Aug 26;19(9):13161-76. doi: 10.3390/molecules190913161.

Abstract

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Globally, tuberculosis is second only to AIDS in mortality and the disease is responsible for over 1.3 million deaths each year. The impractically long treatment schedules (generally 6-9 months) and unpleasant side effects of the current drugs often lead to poor patient compliance, which in turn has resulted in the emergence of multi-, extensively- and totally-drug resistant strains. The development of new classes of anti-tuberculosis drugs and new drug targets is of global importance, since attacking the bacterium using multiple strategies provides the best means to prevent resistance. This review presents an overview of the various strategies and compounds utilized to inhibit glutamine synthetase, a promising target for the development of drugs for TB therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / chemistry
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Discovery
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / chemistry
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / enzymology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis / enzymology
  • Tuberculosis / pathology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase