Monoclonal antibodies, induced with a phosphonate diester hapten, catalyzed the coupling of p-nitrophenyl esters of N-acetyl valine, leucine, and phenylalanine with tryptophan amide to form the corresponding dipeptides. All possible stereoisomeric combinations of the ester and amide substrates were coupled at comparable rates. The antibodies did not catalyze the hydrolysis of the dipeptide product nor hydrolysis or racemization of the activated esters. The yields of the dipeptides ranged from 44 to 94 percent. The antibodies were capable of multiple turnovers at rates that exceeded the rate of spontaneous ester hydrolysis. This achievement suggests routes toward creating a small number of antibody catalysts for polypeptide syntheses.

The structure-based design, synthesis, and biological activity of a novel indazole-containing inhibitor series for S-adenosyl homocysteine/methylthioadenosine (SAH/MTA) nucleosidase are described. Use of 5-aminoindazole as the core scaffold provided a structure-guided series of low nanomolar inhibitors with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The implementation of structure-based methodologies provided a 6000-fold increase in potency over a short timeline (several months) and an economy of synthesized compounds.

Fatty acid biosynthesis is essential for bacterial survival. Components of this biosynthetic pathway have been identified as attractive targets for the development of new antibacterial agents. FabH, beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase III, is a particularly attractive target, since it is central to the initiation of fatty acid biosynthesis and is highly conserved among Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Small molecules that inhibit FabH enzymatic activity have the potential to be candidates within a novel class of selective, nontoxic, broad-spectrum antibacterials. Using crystallographic structural information on these highly conserved active sites and structure based drug design principles, a benzoylaminobenzoic acid series of compounds was developed as potent inhibitors of FabH. This inhibitor class demonstrates strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and selected Gram-negative organisms.

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