On the mechanism of berberine-INF55 (5-Nitro-2-phenylindole) hybrid antibacterials

Naveen K. Dolla, Chao Chen, Jonah Larkins-Ford, Rajmohan Rajamuthiah, Sakthimala Jagadeesan, Annie L. Conery, Frederick M. Ausubel, Eleftherios Mylonakis, John B. Bremner, Kim Lewis, Michael J. Kelso

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Berberine-INF55 hybrids are a promising class of antibacterials that combine berberine and the NorA multidrug resistance pump inhibitor INF55 (5-nitro-2-phenylindole) together in one molecule via a chemically stable linkage. Previous studies demonstrated the potential of these compounds for countering efflux-mediated antibacterial drug resistance but they didn't establish whether the compounds function as originally intended, i.e. with the berberine moiety providing antibacterial activity and the attached INF55 component independently blocking multidrug resistance pumps, thereby enhancing the activity of berberine by reducing its efflux. We hypothesised that if the proposed mechanism is correct, then hybrids carrying more potent INF55 pump inhibitor structures should show enhanced antibacterial effects relative to those bearing weaker inhibitors. Two INF55 analogues showing graded reductions in NorA inhibitory activity compared with INF55 were identified and their corresponding berberine-INF55 hybrids carrying equivalent INF55 inhibitor structures synthesised. Multiple assays comparing the antibacterial effects of the hybrids and their corresponding berberine-INF55 analogue combinations showed that the three hybrids all show very similar activities, leading us to conclude that the antibacterial mechanism(s) of berberine-INF55 hybrids is different from berberine-INF55 combinations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1471-1480
Number of pages10
JournalAustralian Journal of Chemistry
Volume67
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)

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