Spiropyrimidinetrione DNA Gyrase Inhibitors with Potent and Selective Antituberculosis Activity

J Med Chem. 2022 May 12;65(9):6903-6925. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00266. Epub 2022 May 2.

Abstract

New antibiotics with either a novel mode of action or novel mode of inhibition are urgently needed to overcome the threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). The present study profiles new spiropyrimidinetriones (SPTs), DNA gyrase inhibitors having activity against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of TB. While the clinical candidate zoliflodacin has progressed to phase 3 trials for the treatment of gonorrhea, compounds herein demonstrated higher inhibitory potency against Mtb DNA gyrase (e.g., compound 42 with IC50 = 2.0) and lower Mtb minimum inhibitor concentrations (0.49 μM for 42). Notably, 42 and analogues showed selective Mtb activity relative to representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. DNA gyrase inhibition was shown to involve stabilization of double-cleaved DNA, while on-target activity was supported by hypersensitivity against a gyrA hypomorph. Finally, a docking model for SPTs with Mtb DNA gyrase was developed, and a structural hypothesis was built for structure-activity relationship expansion.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antitubercular Agents / chemistry
  • Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • DNA Gyrase / genetics
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis*
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • DNA Gyrase