Inhibiting mycobacterial tryptophan synthase by targeting the inter-subunit interface

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09642-y

Authors: Katherine A. Abrahams (University of Birmingham) , Jonathan A. G. Cox (Aston University) , Klaus Futterer (University of Birmingham) , Joaquín Rullas (GlaxoSmithKline) , Fátima Ortega-Muro (GlaxoSmithKline) , Nicholas J. Loman (University of Birmingham) , Patrick J. Moynihan (University of Birmingham) , Esther Pérez-Herrán (GlaxoSmithKline) , Elena Jiménez (GlaxoSmithKline) , Jorge Esquivias (GlaxoSmithKline) , David Barros (GlaxoSmithKline) , Lluís Ballell (GlaxoSmithKline) , Carlos Alemparte (GlaxoSmithKline) , Gurdyal S. Besra (University of Birmingham)
Co-authored by industrial partner: Yes

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Scientific Reports , VOL 7

State: Published (Approved)
Published: August 2017

Abstract: Drug discovery efforts against the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have been advanced through phenotypic screens of extensive compound libraries. Such a screen revealed sulfolane 1 and indoline-5-sulfonamides 2 and 3 as potent inhibitors of mycobacterial growth. Optimization in the sulfolane series led to compound 4, which has proven activity in an in vivo murine model of Mtb infection. Here we identify the target and mode of inhibition of these compounds based on whole genome sequencing of spontaneous resistant mutants, which identified mutations locating to the essential α- and β-subunits of tryptophan synthase. Over-expression studies confirmed tryptophan synthase as the biological target. Biochemical techniques probed the mechanism of inhibition, revealing the mutant enzyme complex incurs a fitness cost but does not prevent inhibitor binding. Mapping of the resistance conferring mutations onto a low-resolution crystal structure of Mtb tryptophan synthase showed they locate to the interface between the α- and β-subunits. The discovery of anti-tubercular agents inhibiting tryptophan synthase highlights the therapeutic potential of this enzyme and draws attention to the prospect of other amino acid biosynthetic pathways as future Mtb drug targets.

Journal Keywords: Microbiology; Target identification; Target validation; X-ray crystallography

Diamond Keywords: Bacteria; Tuberculosis (TB)

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Medicine, Chemistry


Instruments: I04-Macromolecular Crystallography

Added On: 14/09/2017 10:10

Documents:
s41598-017-09642-y.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Pathogens Antibiotic Resistance Infectious Diseases Health & Wellbeing Biochemistry Chemistry Structural biology Drug Discovery Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Diffraction Macromolecular Crystallography (MX)