Design, synthesis, and bioevaluation of a novel class of (E)-4-oxo-crotonamide derivatives as potent antituberculosis agents

Design of 2-Pyridone Fluorophores for Brighter Emissions at Longer Wavelengths

The recent discovery of blue fluorophores with high quantum yields based on pyridone structures inspired the development of new low-molecular-weight fluorophores with bright emissions at tunable wavelengths, which are highly attractive for various applications. In this study, we propose a rational design strategy for 2-pyridone-based fluorophores with bright emissions at long wavelengths. With a detailed understanding of the positional substitution effects on each carbon atom of the 2-pyridone core, we developed a bright blue fluorophore (λabs =377 nm; λem =433 nm; ϵ=13,200 M-1  cm-1 ; ϕF =88 %) through C3 -aryl and C4 -ester substitutions followed by cyclization. Furthermore, by applying the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) principle, we invented a bright green fluorophore through C3 - and C4 -diester and C6 -aryl substitutions. The ICT fluorophore based on the pyridone structure shows large molar absorptivity (ϵ=20,100 M-1  cm-1 ), longer emission wavelength (λem =539 nm), high emission quantum yield (ϕF =74 %), and large Stokes shift (Δv=5720 cm-1 ), which are comparable to those of practical fluorescent probes.

Virtual Screening Identifies Novel and Potent Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis PknB with Antibacterial Activity

Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein kinase B (PknB) is essential to mycobacterial growth and has received considerable attention as an attractive target for novel anti-tuberculosis drug development. Here, virtual screening, validated by biological assays, was applied to select candidate inhibitors of M. tuberculosis PknB from the Specs compound library (www.specs.net). Fifteen compounds were identified as hits and selected for in vitro biological assays, of which three indoles (2, AE-848/42799159; 4, AH-262/34335013; 10, AP-124/40904362) inhibited growth of M. tuberculosis H37Rv with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 6.2, 12.5, and 6.2 μg/mL, respectively. Two compounds, 2 and 10, inhibited M. tuberculosis PknB activity in vitro, with IC₅₀ values of 14.4 and 12.1 μM, respectively, suggesting this to be the likely basis of their anti-tubercular activity. In contrast, compound 4 displayed anti-tuberculosis activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv but showed no inhibition of PknB activity (IC₅₀ > 128 μM). We hypothesize that hydrolysis of its ethyl ester to a carboxylate moiety generates an active species that inhibits other M. tuberculosis enzymes. Molecular dynamics simulations of modeled complexes of compounds 2, 4, and 10 bound to M. tuberculosis PknB indicated that compound 4 has a lower affinity for M. tuberculosis PknB than compounds 2 and 10, as evidenced by higher calculated binding free energies, consistent with experiment. Compounds 2 and 10 therefore represent candidate inhibitors of M. tuberculosis PknB that provide attractive starting templates for optimization as anti-tubercular agents.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of berkeleylactone A-derived antibiotics

Berkeleylactone A is a potent 16-membered macrolactone antibiotic, recently isolated from a coculture of Berkeley Pit Lake fungi. Although its antimicrobial activity has already been investigated, little is known about the structure-activity relationship. Based on our previous synthetic studies, a series of berkeleylactone A derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Our data confirmed the essential role of the embedded conjugated system and suggest a reversible sulfa-protection of the Michael acceptor as a viable option. Structurally simplified achiral macrolactam 8 showed the best inhibitory activity against S. aureus L12 (MRSA) with MIC₅₀ values of 0.39 μg mL^-1, 8-fold lower than those of berkeleylactone A. These studies may be of value in the development of more advanced candidates for antibiotic applications.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 4-oxo-2-butenoic acids by aldol-condensation of glyoxylic acid

4-Oxobutenoic acids are useful as biologically active species and as versatile intermediates for further derivatisation. Currently, routes to their synthesis can be problematic and lack generality. Reaction conditions for the synthesis of 4-oxo-2-butenoic acid by microwave-assisted aldol-condensation between methyl ketone derivatives and glyoxylic acid have been developed. They provide the desired products in moderate to excellent yields for a wide range of substrates, by applying a simple procedure to accessible starting materials. The investigation revealed different conditions are required depending on the nature of the methylketone substituent, with aryl derivatives proceeding best using tosic acid and aliphatic substrates reacting best with pyrrolidine and acetic acid. This substituent effect is rationalised by frontier orbital calculations. Overall, this work provides methods for synthesis of 4-oxo-butenoic acids across a broad range of substrates.

Endogenous Enzymes Enable Antimicrobial Activity

In light of the continued threat of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, new strategies to expand the repertoire of antimicrobial compounds are necessary. Prodrugs are an underexploited strategy in this effort. Here, we report on the enhanced antimicrobial activity of a prodrug toward bacteria having an enzyme capable of its activation. A screen led us to the sulfurol ester of the antibiotic trans-3-(4-chlorobenzoyl)acrylic acid. An endogenous esterase makes Mycolycibacterium smegmatis sensitive to this prodrug. Candidate esterases were identified, and their heterologous production made Escherichia coli sensitive to the ester prodrug. Taken together, these data suggest a new approach to the development of antimicrobial compounds that takes advantage of endogenous enzymatic activities to target specific bacteria.