Tricyclic SpiroLactams Kill Mycobacteria In Vitro and In Vivo by Inhibiting Type II NADH Dehydrogenases
Sushovan Dam, Salia Tangara, Claire Hamela, Theo Hattabi, Léo Faïon, Paul Carré, Rudy Antoine, Adrien Herlédan, Florence Leroux, Catherine Piveteau, Maxime Eveque, Marion Flipo, Benoît Déprez, Laurent Kremer, Nicolas Willand, Baptiste Villemagne, Ruben C. Hartkoorn
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide It is critical that novel classes of antituberculosis drugs are developed to combat the increasing burden of infections by multidrug-resistant strains. To identify such a novel class of antibiotics, a chemical library of unique 3-D bioinspired molecules was explored revealing a promising, mycobacterium specific Tricyclic SpiroLactam (TriSLa) hit. Chemical optimization of the TriSLa scaffold delivered potent analogues with nanomolar activity against replicating and nonreplicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Characterization of isolated TriSLa-resistant mutants, and biochemical studies, found TriSLas to act as allosteric inhibitors of type II NADH dehydrogenases (Ndh-2 of the electron transport chain), resulting in an increase in bacterial NADH/NAD + ratios and decreased ATP levels. TriSLas are chemically distinct from other inhibitors of Ndh-2 but share a dependence for fatty acids for activity. Finally, in vivo proof-of-concept studies showed TriSLas to protect zebrafish larvae from Mycobacterium marinum infection, suggesting a vulnerability of Ndh-2 inhibition in mycobacterial infections.