Biological evaluation and chemoproteomics reveal potential antibacterial targets of a cajaninstilbene-acid analogue.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the formation of persistent nongrowing subpopulations (persisters) is a serious threat to human. Our previous studies have proved that two cajaninstilbene acid (CSA) analogues, compound 5b and 5j display remarkable antibacterial activities, especially overcoming drug resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Present study found that 5b and 5j are capable of eradicating MRSA persisters. However, their underlying antibacterial mechanism is still obscure. In this study, biological evaluation was performed by transmission electron micrograph, membrane permeability and membrane depolarization experiment to reveal the effects of drugs on bacteria. Further, affinity-based protein profiling and transcriptional profiling were performed to characterise the protein targets in bacterial. Biological evaluation suggested that 5b has an effect on bacterial membrane, affinity-based protein profiling identified that 5b targets membrane associated protein PgsA and verified by in vitro labelling profile. Transcriptional profiling indicated that 5b interferes in phosphatidylglycerol (PG) synthesis pathway. This study identified a novel antibacterial target PgsA and it might be a potential target to combat the resistant bacteria.