[S11-5] Biochemistry of V-ATPase in Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is one of the leading causes of hospital infection among patients receiving healthcare. Due to its wide range and high antibiotic resistance level, VRE has been declared a serious public health threat by CDC.
Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase is a Na+-transporting molecular motor, which enables E. hirae to grow in high salt and high pH condition. We have established the V-ATPase expression and purification systems and identified several specific inhibitors through the screening using the purified samples from a chemical library. Growth of E. hirae was decreased in alkaline pH, indicating the inhibition of V-ATPase. The inhibitor’s effect was examined with VRE faecium, and the growth was also decreased in alkaline pH. Here, we would like to show that V-ATPase inhibitors could be a new antibacterial drug against VRE and discuss the difficulty and importance of target proteins' biochemistry for antibacterial drug development.
Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase is a Na+-transporting molecular motor, which enables E. hirae to grow in high salt and high pH condition. We have established the V-ATPase expression and purification systems and identified several specific inhibitors through the screening using the purified samples from a chemical library. Growth of E. hirae was decreased in alkaline pH, indicating the inhibition of V-ATPase. The inhibitor’s effect was examined with VRE faecium, and the growth was also decreased in alkaline pH. Here, we would like to show that V-ATPase inhibitors could be a new antibacterial drug against VRE and discuss the difficulty and importance of target proteins' biochemistry for antibacterial drug development.