Molecular Modeling of Novel Tryptamine Analogs with Antibiotic Potential Through Their Inhibition of Tryptophan Synthase

Author

Jared Schattenkerk, Claremont McKenna CollegeFollow

Graduation Year

2017

Date of Submission

4-2017

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

W.M. Keck Science Department

Second Department

Biology

Reader 1

Rory Spence

Reader 2

Aaron McMurtray

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2017 Jared W Schattenkerk

Abstract

The growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a global health crisis that threatens the effectiveness of antibiotics in medical treatment. Increases in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a drop in the pharmaceutical development of novel antibiotics have combined to form a situation that is rapidly increasing the likelihood of a post-antibiotic era. The development of antibiotics with novel enzymatic targets is critical to stall this growing crisis. In silico methods of molecular modeling and drug design were utilized in the development of novel tryptamine analogs as potential antibiotics through their inhibition of the bacterial enzyme tryptophan synthase. Following the creation of novel tryptamine analogs, the molecules were analyzed in silico to determine their binding affinity to human MAOB and the E. coli α-subunit, E. coli β₂-dimer and the M. tuberculosis β₂-dimer of tryptophan synthase. Ten tryptamine analogs displayed significant increases in tryptophan synthase binding affinity and show promise as potential antibiotics and antibiotic adjuvants. Further in silico modeling determined that the binding sites of the tryptamine analogs were similar to wild-type tryptamine in the E. coli β₂-dimer, the M. tuberculosis β₂-dimer and human MAOB, while the analogs’ binding sites to the E. coli α-subunit differed. Although no tryptamine analogs increased tryptophan synthase binding affinity while decreasing human MAOB binding affinity, related increases in MAOB binding affinity warrants further research into the analogs’ potentials as MAO inhibitors. Given the increases in tryptophan synthase binding affinity and similar β₂-dimer binding sites, a provisional patent was filed on the ten identified tryptamine analogs. Moving forward, we recommend the synthesis of the ten identified tryptamine analogs. Following synthesis, further research should be conducted to determine the in vitro and in vivo antibiotic properties of the ten tryptamine analogs.

Recommended Citation

Schattenkerk, Jared, "Molecular Modeling of Novel Tryptamine Analogs with Antibiotic Potential Through Their Inhibition of Tryptophan Synthase" (2017). CMC Senior Theses. 1656.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1656