Discovery of Potent Benzocycloalkane Derived Diapophytoene Desaturase Inhibitors with an Enhanced Safety Profile for the Treatment of MRSA, VISA, and LRSA Infections

Blocking the biosynthesis process of staphyloxanthin has emerged as a promising antivirulence strategy. Our previous research revealed that diapophytoene desaturase was an attractive and druggable target against infections caused by pigmented Staphylococcus aureus. Benzocycloalkane-derived compounds were effective inhibitors of diapophytoene desaturase but limited by high hERG (human Ether-a-go-go Related Gene) inhibition activity. Here, we identified a new type of benzo-hepta-containing cycloalkane derivative as diapophytoene desaturase inhibitors. Among the fifty-eight analogues, 48 (hERG inhibition activity, half maximal inhibitory concentration, IC 50 , of 16.1 μM) and 51 (hERG inhibition activity, IC 50 > 40 μM) were distinguished for effectively inhibiting the pigment production of Staphylococcus aureus Newman and three methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, and the four strains were highly sensitize to hydrogen peroxide killing without a bactericidal growth effect. In an in vivo assay, 48 and 51 displayed a comparable effect with linezolid and vancomycin in livers and hearts in mice against Staphylococcus aureus Newman and a more considerable effect against Mu50 and NRS271 with normal administration.