The effect of a putative UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (Mur A) inhibitor combination on the eukaryote Tetrahymena

Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology

Luken, Taylor

King, Ainsley

Richey, Peggy (Mentor)

English

New drug treatments are needed to combat the serious threat that antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens pose to public health. The enzyme UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase(MurA) catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of peptidoglycan, a crucial component of bacterial cell walls. Consequently, MurA presents an excellent target for antibacterial drugs. An in silico analysis indicated that 1,3,4-cyclohexane tricarboxylic acid (LT040) may inhibit MurA. LT040 has been shown to partially inhibit some bacteria by itself, and completely inhibit the same bacteria in combination with fosfomycin, a MurA inhibitor. Because bacteria are prokaryotes, it was hypothesized that neither fosfomycin, LT040, nor the combination will inhibit eukaryotes because they do not synthesize MurA. To evaluate the effect of fosfomycin and LT040 on a eukaryote, the growth of Tetrahymena, a protist, in the presence of the drugs was determined. Results revealed that the growth of Tetrahymena was not hindered.