A synthetic
molecule S006-830, belonging to the class of thiophene-containing
trisubstituted methanes, had shown good in vitro and in vivo bactericidal
activity against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The molecule had
also shown good druglike pharmacokinetic properties. However, S006-830
is a racemic mixture of two enantiomers, one of which could possess
a better pharmacological profile than the other. We purified both
the enantiomers on a chiral column and observed that S-enantiomer
has a significantly higher inhibitory and cidal activity against Mtb
than the R-enantiomer. Action of S-S006-830 was “synergistic”
for rifampicin and “additive” for isoniazid and ethambutol.
The combination of S-S006-830 and rifampicin produced
100% kill of Mtb within 8 days. In a chemical proteomics approach
using matrix-bound compound to pull down its target protein(s) from
Mtb membrane, FabG4 (β-ketoacyl CoA reductase, EC 1.1.1.100)
emerged as the most likely target for S-S006-830.
In target validation assays, the compound exhibited 2-fold higher
inhibitory concentration for an Mtb construct overexpressing FabG4.
In addition, it inhibited mycolic acid biosynthesis and formation
of biofilms by Mtb. Molecular docking of S-S006-830
with FabG4 was consistent with the experimental data. These results
support the development of S-S006-830 as a novel
lead against tuberculosis.