New Classes of Alanine Racemase Inhibitors Identified by High-Throughput Screening Show Antimicrobial Activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Authors: Karen G. Anthony, Ulrich Strych, Kacheong R. Yeung, Carolyn S. Shoen, Oriana Perez, Kurt L. Krause, Michael H. Cynamon, Paul A. Aristoff, Raymond A. Koski

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020374

Abstract Summary

Researchers screened 53,000 compounds to find new tuberculosis drugs targeting alanine racemase, an enzyme essential for TB bacteria’s cell wall synthesis. They discovered 17 novel inhibitors, with 7 showing anti-TB activity and low toxicity to human cells—promising leads for safer TB treatments.

Why Brain? 🧠

Researchers screened 53,000 compounds and found 17 novel inhibitors of alanine racemase, a key TB enzyme. Seven showed anti-TB activity with low toxicity, offering new drug leads.

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