Synthesis and in silico modelling of the potential dual mechanistic activity of small cationic peptides potentiating the antibiotic novobiocin against susceptible and multi‐drug resistant escherichia coli

Ilaria Passarini, Pedro Ernesto de Resende, Sarah Soares, Tadeh Tahmasi, Paul Stapleton, John Malkinson, Mire Zloh, Sharon Rossiter

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    Abstract

    Cationic antimicrobial peptides have attracted interest, both as antimicrobial agents and for their ability to increase cell permeability to potentiate other antibiotics. However, toxicity to mammalian cells and complexity have hindered development for clinical use. We present the design and synthesis of very short cationic peptides (3–9 residues) with potential dual bacterial membrane permeation and efflux pump inhibition functionality. Peptides were designed based upon in silico similarity to known active peptides and efflux pump inhibitors. A number of these peptides potentiate the activity of the antibiotic novobiocin against susceptible Escherichia coli and restore antibiotic activity against a multi-drug resistant E. coli strain, despite having minimal or no intrinsic antimicrobial activity. Molecular modelling studies, via docking studies and short molecular dynamics simulations, indicate two potential mechanisms of potentiating activity; increasing antibiotic cell permeation via complexation with novobiocin to enable self-promoted uptake, and binding the E. coli RND efflux pump. These peptides demonstrate potential for restoring the activity of hydrophobic drugs.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number9134
    JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
    Volume21
    Issue number23
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 30 Nov 2020

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