Membrane Potential-Dependent Uptake of Cationic Oligoimidazolium Mediates Bacterial DNA Damage and Death.

ABSTRACT: The treatment of bacterial infections is becoming increasingly challenging with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Thus, the development of antimicrobials with novel mechanisms of action is much needed. Previously, we designed several cationic main-chain imidazolium compounds and identified the polyimidazolium PIM1 as a potent antibacterial against a wide panel of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens, and it had relatively low toxicity against mammalian epithelial cells. However, little is known about the mechanism of action of PIM1. Using an oligomeric version of PIM1 with precisely six repeating units (OIM1-6) to control for consistency, we showed that OIM1-6 relies on an intact membrane potential for entry into the bacterial cytoplasm, as resistant mutants to OIM1-6 have mut

SUBMITTER: Yong M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10190574 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature