Novel antibacterial compounds specifically targeting the essential WalR response regulator

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2010 Mar;63(3):127-34. doi: 10.1038/ja.2010.4. Epub 2010 Jan 29.

Abstract

The WalK/WalR (YycG/YycF) two-component system, which is essential for cell viability, is highly conserved and specific to low-GC percentage of Gram-positive bacteria, making it an attractive target for novel antimicrobial compounds. Recent work has shown that WalK/WalR exerts an effect as a master regulatory system in controlling and coordinating cell wall metabolism with cell division in Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. In this paper, we develop a high-throughput screening system for WalR inhibitors and identify two novel inhibitors targeting the WalR response regulator (RR): walrycin A (4-methoxy-1-naphthol) and walrycin B (1,6-dimethyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrimido[5,4-e][1,2,4]triazine-5,7-dione). Addition of these compounds simultaneously affects the expression of WalR regulon genes, leading to phenotypes consistent with those of cells starved for the WalK/WalR system and having a bactericidal effect. B. subtilis cells form extremely long aseptate filaments and S. aureus cells form large aggregates under these conditions. These results show that walrycins A and B are the first antibacterial agents targeting WalR in B. subtilis and S. aureus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacillus subtilis / drug effects
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Bacterial Proteins / drug effects*
  • Bacterial Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / genetics
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / physiology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plasmids / drug effects
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Trypsin / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • YycF protein, Bacteria
  • Trypsin