Identification and Characterization of Approved Drugs and Drug-Like Compounds as Covalent Escherichia coli ClpP Inhibitors

The serine protease Caseinolytic protease subunit P (ClpP) plays an important role for protein homeostasis in bacteria and contributes to various developmental processes, as well as virulence. Therefore, ClpP is considered as a potential drug target in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we utilized a biochemical assay to screen several small molecule libraries of approved and investigational drugs for Escherichia coli ClpP inhibitors. The approved drugs bortezomib, cefmetazole, cisplatin, as well as the investigational drug cDPCP, and the protease inhibitor 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (3,4-DIC) emerged as ClpP inhibitors with IC50 values ranging between 0.04 and 31 µM. Compound profiling of the inhibitors revealed cefmetazole and cisplatin not to inhibit the serine protease bovine α-chymotrypsin, and for cefmetazole no cytotoxicity against three human cell lines was detected. Surface plasmon resonance studies demonstrated all novel ClpP inhibitors to bind covalently to ClpP. Investigation of the potential binding mode for cefmetazole using molecular docking suggested a dual covalent binding to Ser97 and Thr168. While only the antibiotic cefmetazole demonstrated an intrinsic antibacterial effect, cDPCP clearly delayed the bacterial growth recovery time upon chemically induced nitric oxide stress in a ClpP-dependent manner

Identification and Characterization of Approved Drugs and Drug-Like Compounds as Covalent Escherichia coli ClpP Inhibitors

The serine protease Caseinolytic protease subunit P (ClpP) plays an important role for protein homeostasis in bacteria and contributes to various developmental processes, as well as virulence. Therefore, ClpP is considered as a potential drug target in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we utilized a biochemical assay to screen several small molecule libraries of approved and investigational drugs for Escherichia coli ClpP inhibitors. The approved drugs bortezomib, cefmetazole, cisplatin, as well as the investigational drug cDPCP, and the protease inhibitor 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (3,4-DIC) emerged as ClpP inhibitors with IC50 values ranging between 0.04 and 31 µM. Compound profiling of the inhibitors revealed cefmetazole and cisplatin not to inhibit the serine protease bovine α-chymotrypsin, and for cefmetazole no cytotoxicity against three human cell lines was detected. Surface plasmon resonance studies demonstrated all novel ClpP inhibitors to bind covalently to ClpP. Investigation of the potential binding mode for cefmetazole using molecular docking suggested a dual covalent binding to Ser97 and Thr168. While only the antibiotic cefmetazole demonstrated an intrinsic antibacterial effect, cDPCP clearly delayed the bacterial growth recovery time upon chemically induced nitric oxide stress in a ClpP-dependent manner

α-Amino diphenyl phosphonates as novel inhibitors of Escherichia coli ClpP protease

Increased Gram-negative bacteria resistance to antibiotics is becoming a global problem, and new classes of antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action are required. The caseinolytic protease subunit P (ClpP) is a serine protease conserved among bacteria that is considered as an interesting drug target. ClpP function is involved in protein turnover and homeostasis, stress response, and virulence among other processes. The focus of this study was to identify new inhibitors of Escherichia coli ClpP and to understand their mode of action. A focused library of serine protease inhibitors based on diaryl phosphonate warheads was tested for ClpP inhibition, and a chemical exploration around the hit compounds was conducted. Altogether, 14 new potent inhibitors of E. coli ClpP were identified. Compounds 85 and 92 emerged as most interesting compounds from this study due to their potency and, respectively, to its moderate but consistent antibacterial properties as well as the favorable cytotoxicity profile.Peer reviewe