Developing Inhibitors to Selectively Target Two-Component and Phosphorelay Signal Transduction Systems of Pathogenic Microorganisms

Title: Developing Inhibitors to Selectively Target Two-Component and Phosphorelay Signal Transduction Systems of Pathogenic Microorganisms

Volume: 11 Issue: 6

Author(s): K. Stephenson and J. A. Hoch

Affiliation:

Keywords: two-component system, phosphorelay, sensor histidine kinase, response regulator, virulence

Abstract: Two-component signal transduction systems and their expanded variants known as phosphorelays are integral elements of the virulence and antimicrobial resistance responses of a wide range of pathogenic bacteria and fungi and also regulate essential functions. As a consequence, two-component systems and phosphorelays are recognized targets for the development of novel antimicrobial agents and a number of chemically synthesized inhibitors from different chemical classes have been identified by compound library screens. However, in the majority of cases these compounds do not appear to be selective for signal transduction pathways and exert their effect by multiple mechanisms of action. The key to designing molecules to selectively disrupt signal transduction may lie with the conserved features of response regulators and the structural analysis of complexes of signaling proteins.

Cite this article as:

Stephenson K. and Hoch A. J., Developing Inhibitors to Selectively Target Two-Component and Phosphorelay Signal Transduction Systems of Pathogenic Microorganisms, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2004; 11 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867043455765