Rational Design of Dimeric Lysine N-Alkylamides as Potent and Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents

J Med Chem. 2018 Apr 12;61(7):2865-2874. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01704. Epub 2018 Mar 28.

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to public health, and new antibacterial agents hence are in an urgent need to combat infectious diseases caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Utilizing dimerization strategy, we rationally designed and efficiently synthesized a new series of small molecule dimeric lysine alkylamides as mimics of AMPs. Evaluation of these mimics against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including MDR strains was performed, and a broad-spectrum and potent compound 3d was identified. This compound displayed high specificity toward bacteria over mammalian cell. Time-kill kinetics and mechanistic studies suggest that compound 3d quickly eliminated bacteria in a bactericidal mode by disrupting bacterial cell membrane. In addition, lead compound 3d could inhibit biofilm formation and did not develop drug resistance in S. aureus and E. coli over 14 passages. These results suggested that dimeric lysine nonylamide has immense potential as a new type of novel small molecular agent to combat antibiotic resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemical synthesis*
  • Amides / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane Permeability / drug effects
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects

Substances

  • Amides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Lysine