Stereochemical modification of geminal dialkyl substituents on pantothenamides alters antimicrobial activity.

ABSTRACT: Pantothenamides are N-substituted pantothenate derivatives which are known to exert antimicrobial activity through interference with coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis or downstream CoA-utilizing proteins. A previous report has shown that replacement of the ProR methyl group of the benchmark N-pentylpantothenamide with an allyl group (R-anti configuration) yielded one of the most potent antibacterial pantothenamides reported so far (MIC of 3.2 ?M for both sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus). We describe herein a synthetic route for accessing the corresponding R-syn diastereomer using a key diastereoselective reduction with Baker's yeast, and report on the scope of this reaction for modified systems. Interestingly, whilst the R-anti diastereomer is the only one to show antibacterial activity, the R-syn isomer proved to be significantly more potent against the malaria parasite (IC50 of 2.4±0.2 ?M). Our research underlines the striking influence that stereochemistry has on the biological activity of pantothenamides, and may find utility in the study of various CoA-utilizing systems.

SUBMITTER: Hoegl A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5226837 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature