Combinatorial synthesis through disulfide exchange: discovery of potent psammaplin A type antibacterial agents active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Chemistry. 2001 Oct 1;7(19):4280-95. doi: 10.1002/1521-3765(20011001)7:19<4280::aid-chem4280>3.0.co;2-3.

Abstract

Psammaplin A is a symmetrical bromotyrosine-derived disulfide natural product isolated from the Psammaplysilla sponge, which exhibits in vitro antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Inspired by the structure of this marine natural product, a combinatorial scrambling strategy for the construction of heterodimeric disulfide analogues was developed and applied to the construction of a 3828-membered library starting from 88 homodimeric disulfides. These psammaplin A analogues were screened directly against various gram positive bacterial strains leading to the discovery of a series of potent antibacterial agents active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Among the most active leads derived from these studies are compounds 104, 105, 113, 115, 123, and 128. The present, catalytically-induced, disulfide exchange strategy may be extendable to other types of building blocks bearing thiol groups facilitating the construction of diverse discovery-oriented combinatorial libraries.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / methods
  • Dimerization
  • Disulfides / chemical synthesis*
  • Disulfides / pharmacology
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tyrosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tyrosine / chemical synthesis*
  • Tyrosine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Disulfides
  • psammaplin A
  • Tyrosine