A Fluorescent Teixobactin Analogue

ACS Chem Biol. 2020 May 15;15(5):1222-1231. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00908. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Abstract

This report describes the first synthesis and application of a fluorescent teixobactin analogue that exhibits antibiotic activity and binds to the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria. The teixobactin analogue, Lys(Rhod)9,Arg10-teixobactin, has a fluorescent tag at position 9 and an arginine in place of the natural allo-enduracididine residue at position 10. The fluorescent teixobactin analogue retains partial antibiotic activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 4-8 μg/mL across a panel of Gram-positive bacteria, as compared to 1-4 μg/mL for the unlabeled Arg10-teixobactin analogue. Lys(Rhod)9,Arg10-teixobactin is prepared by a regioselective labeling strategy that labels Lys9 with an amine-reactive rhodamine fluorophore during solid-phase peptide synthesis, with the resulting conjugate tolerating subsequent solid-phase peptide synthesis reactions. Treatment of Gram-positive bacteria with Lys(Rhod)9,Arg10-teixobactin results in septal and lateral staining, which is consistent with an antibiotic targeting cell wall precursors. Concurrent treatment of Lys(Rhod)9,Arg10-teixobactin and BODIPY FL vancomycin results in septal colocalization, providing further evidence that Lys(Rhod)9,Arg10-teixobactin binds to cell wall precursors. Controls with either Gram-negative bacteria, or an inactive fluorescent homologue with Gram-positive bacteria, showed little or no staining in fluorescence micrographic studies. Lys(Rhod)9,Arg10-teixobactin can thus serve as a functional probe to study Gram-positive bacteria and their interactions with teixobactin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Boron Compounds / chemistry*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cell Wall
  • Cyclization
  • Depsipeptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Depsipeptides / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery
  • Esterification
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Optical Imaging
  • Pyrrolidines / chemistry
  • Pyrrolidines / metabolism
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Vancomycin / chemistry

Substances

  • 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Boron Compounds
  • Depsipeptides
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • L-allo-enduracididine
  • Pyrrolidines
  • Vancomycin
  • teixobactin