Inhibition of mycolic acid biosynthesis in a cell‐wall preparation from Mycobacterium smegmatis by methyl 4‐(2‐octadecylcyclopropen‐1‐y1) butanoate, a structural analogue of a key precursor

[14C]acetate was incorporated into mycolic acids by a cell‐free, cell‐wall fraction from Mycobacterium smegmatis. This activity was inhibited by methyl 4‐(2‐octadecylcyclopropen‐1‐y1) butanoate which was designed as a structural analogue of cis‐tetracos‐5‐enoate, a precursor of mycolic acid biosynth...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Letters in applied microbiology 1993-07, Vol.17 (1), p.33-36
Main Authors: Wheeler, P. R., Besra, G. S., Minnikin, D. E., Ratledge, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action of physical and chemical agents on bacteria
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Microbiology
Mycobacterium smegmatis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:[14C]acetate was incorporated into mycolic acids by a cell‐free, cell‐wall fraction from Mycobacterium smegmatis. This activity was inhibited by methyl 4‐(2‐octadecylcyclopropen‐1‐y1) butanoate which was designed as a structural analogue of cis‐tetracos‐5‐enoate, a precursor of mycolic acid biosynthesis. Other fatty acids and their methyl esters failed to inhibit mycolic acid biosynthesis at the concentration 1–2 mg ml‐1, at which methyl 4‐(2‐octadecylcyclopropen‐1‐y1) butanoate was effective. Thus a novel agent was shown to act against an enzyme activity or target involved specifically in biosynthesis of a characteristic, mycobacterial, cell‐wall component.
ISSN:0266-8254
1472-765X
DOI:10.1111/j.1472-765X.1993.tb01429.x