Specific inhibitions of annonaceous acetogenins on class II 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase from

Lingling Feng1, Li Zhou, Yao Sun

  • 1Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology (CCNU), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China. fll708@mail.ccnu.edu.cn

Insights

Annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) show potent inhibition against Streptococcus pneumoniae 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), offering a new avenue for developing antibacterial drugs against this pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is a key enzyme in bacterial pathways.
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae infections pose a significant public health challenge.
  • Effective inhibitors for bacterial class II HMGR are currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the inhibitory potential of annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) against Streptococcus pneumoniae HMGR.
  • To explore ACGs as novel drug candidates for treating S. pneumoniae infections.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme inhibition assays were performed to quantify the activity of ACGs.
  • In silico methods, including 3D modeling and docking simulations, were employed.
  • Comparison of ACG inhibition with the statin drug lovastatin.

Main Results:

  • Four ACGs demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against S. pneumoniae HMGR.
  • The K(i) values for ACGs ranged from 6.45–20.49 μM, outperforming lovastatin (K(i)=116.25 μM).
  • Molecular modeling suggested a novel binding mode for ACGs within the enzyme's active site.

Conclusions:

  • Annonaceous acetogenins are promising inhibitors of S. pneumoniae class II HMGR.
  • The identified binding mode provides a basis for designing more potent antibacterial agents.
  • ACG-based therapeutics could offer a new strategy against invasive pneumococcal diseases.

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