Towards Photochromic Azobenzene‐Based Inhibitors for Tryptophan Synthase

Nadja Anita Simeth, Thomas Kinateder, Chitra Rajendran, Julian Nazet, Rainer Merkl, Reinhard Sterner, Burkhard König, Andrea C. Kneuttinger
2020
Light regulation of drug molecules has gained growing interest in biochemical and pharmacological research in recent years. In addition, a serious need for novel molecular targets of antibiotics has emerged presently. Herein, the development of a photocontrollable, azobenzene‐based antibiotic precursor towards tryptophan synthase (TS), an essential metabolic multienzyme complex in bacteria, is presented. The compound exhibited moderately strong inhibition of TS in its E configuration and five
more » ... mes lower inhibition strength in its Z configuration. A combination of biochemical, crystallographic, and computational analyses was used to characterize the inhibition mode of this compound. Remarkably, binding of the inhibitor to a hitherto‐unconsidered cavity results in an unproductive conformation of TS leading to noncompetitive inhibition of tryptophan production. In conclusion, we created a promising lead compound for combatting bacterial diseases, which targets an essential metabolic enzyme, and whose inhibition strength can be controlled with light.
doi:10.5283/epub.44402 fatcat:rhrehqrsm5atznilio7j7mhypu