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. 2024 Nov 23;25(23):12583.
doi: 10.3390/ijms252312583.

Eleutherin and Isoeleutherin Activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Strain's: Molecular Docking and Antibacterial Evaluation

Mírian Letícia Carmo Bastos  1 , Houéfa Egidia Fallon Adido  2 , Ananda Karolyne Martins de Brito  3 , Cristian Kallahan Silva Chagas  3 , Ana Laura Gadelha Castro  4 , Gleison Gonçalves Ferreira  3 , Pedro Henrique Costa Nascimento  2 , Walice Rans da Silva Padilha  2 , Rosana Moura Sarmento  5 , Viviane Vasconcelos Garcia  5 , Andrey Moacir do Rosario Marinho  6 , Patrícia Santana Barbosa Marinho  7 , Johnatt Allan Rocha de Oliveira  8 , Valdicley Vieira Vale  4 , Sandro Percário  1 , Maria Fâni Dolabela  1   2   3   4
Affiliations

Eleutherin and Isoeleutherin Activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Strain's: Molecular Docking and Antibacterial Evaluation

Mírian Letícia Carmo Bastos et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Naphthoquinones eleutherin and isoeleutherin have demonstrated promising antibacterial activity, probably due to their quinone structure, which can generate reactive oxygen species. The study examines the activities of pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, associated with antimicrobial resistance and explores their potential mechanisms of action. The MIC, IC50, and MBC were determined. PharmMapper 2017 server and GOLD 2020.1 software were utilized for molecular docking to identify protein targets and interaction mechanisms. The docking predictions were verified by redocking, focusing on structures with RMSD below 2 Å. The molecular docking revealed a significant affinity of eleutherin for the peptide, transcriptional regulator QacR, and regulatory protein BlaR1 with better interactions with BlaR1 than the crystallographic ligand (benzylpenicillin). Isoeleutherin demonstrated specific interactions with methionine aminopeptidase, indicating specificity and affinity. In summary, the difference in naphthoquinones activities may be related to structural differences. Eleutherin exhibits potential as a therapeutic adjuvant to reverse bacterial resistance in S. aureus, suggesting this molecule interferes with the antibiotic resistance mechanism. The absence of homologous proteins or variations in the structure of the target proteins could be the cause of the inactivity against E. coli.

Keywords: Eleutherine plicata; antibacterial activity; molecular docking; naphthoquinones.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bacterial inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus by eleutherin, isoeleutherin, and controls. Solvent—methanol.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bacterial inhibition of Escherichia coli by eleutherin, isoeleutherin, and controls. Solvent—methanol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Molecular interactions of eleutherin and actinonin with peptide deformylase–PDF. (A) Interactions of eleutherin; (B) interactions with the crystallographic ligand actinonin; and RMSD—Root Mean Square Deviation, value in angstrom.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Molecular interactions of eleutherin and pentamidine with the regulator QacR. (A) Interactions of eleutherin; (B) interactions with the crystallographic ligand pentamidine; and RMSD—Root Mean Square Deviation, value in angstrom.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Molecular interactions of eleutherin and benzylpenicillin with the transcriptional regulator BlaR1. (A) Interactions of eleutherin; (B) interactions with the crystallographic ligand benzylpenicillin; and RMSD—Root Mean Square Deviation, value in angstrom.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Molecular interactions of isoeleutherin and ketoheterocycle 618 with methionine aminopeptidase—MetAP. (A) Interactions of isoeleutherin; (B) interactions with the crystallographic ligand ketoheterocycle 618; and RMSD—Root Mean Square Deviation, value in angstrom.
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