Structural highlights
Function
TRMD_STAAS Specifically methylates guanosine-37 in various tRNAs.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The tRNA m(1)G37 methyltransferase (TrmD) is considered essential in various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen responsible for a wide range of diseases. Here, we have performed a high-throughput nanomole-scale synthesis campaign (nanoSAR) by late-stage copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC)-functionalizing a library of structurally diverse azides (N = 320) to a pyrrolopyrimidone alkyne. We have identified selective S. aureus TrmD inhibitors with inhibitory activity in the nanomolar to low micromolar range using a direct-to-biology assay read-out. A carbamate-masked guanidine intermediate of the lead structure selectively inhibited S. aureus growth at low micromolar concentrations in cell-based assays, while Gram-negative bacteria and an off-target panel of methyltransferases were not affected. Subsequent cocrystallization resulted in a crystal structure of S. aureus TrmD bound to an inhibitor, providing detailed insights into its binding mode and enabling future structure-guided optimization.
Nanoscale Direct-to-Biology Optimization and Structural Insights into Selective S. aureus TrmD Inhibitors.,Hubner AF, Weldert AC, Marciniak T, Hof F, Beck VS, Carien S, Mulartschyk SN, Wolf E, Ziebuhr W, Barthels F J Med Chem. 2025 Dec 10. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c02323. PMID:41367353[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Hübner AF, Weldert AC, Marciniak T, Hof F, Beck VS, Carien S, Mulartschyk SN, Wolf E, Ziebuhr W, Barthels F. Nanoscale Direct-to-Biology Optimization and Structural Insights into Selective S. aureus TrmD Inhibitors. J Med Chem. 2025 Dec 10. PMID:41367353 doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c02323