Open AccessMitochondria-targeted antioxidants as highly effective antibiotics
Author(s) -
Pavel A. Nazarov,
Ilya А. Osterman,
Artem V. Tokarchuk,
Marina Karakozova,
Г. А. Коршунова,
Konstantin G. Lyamzaev,
Maxim V. Skulachev,
Еlena А. Kotova,
Vladimir P. Skulachev,
Yuri N. Antonenko
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/s41598-017-00802-8
Subject(s) - bacillus subtilis , microbiology and biotechnology , escherichia coli , chemistry , photobacterium phosphoreum , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , multiple drug resistance , antibacterial activity , biology , mutant , biochemistry , antibiotics , genetics , gene
Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants are known to alleviate mitochondrial oxidative damage that is associated with a variety of diseases. Here, we showed that SkQ1, a decyltriphenyl phosphonium cation conjugated to a quinone moiety, exhibited strong antibacterial activity towards Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium sp . and Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Photobacterium phosphoreum and Rhodobacter sphaeroides in submicromolar and micromolar concentrations. SkQ1 exhibited less antibiotic activity towards Escherichia coli due to the presence of the highly effective multidrug resistance pump AcrAB-TolC. E. coli mutants lacking AcrAB-TolC showed similar SkQ1 sensitivity, as B. subtilis . Lowering of the bacterial membrane potential by SkQ1 might be involved in the mechanism of its bactericidal action. No significant cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells was observed at bacteriotoxic concentrations of SkQ1. Therefore, SkQ1 may be effective in protection of the infected mammals by killing invading bacteria.