albicidin

Albicidin is a natural hybrid polyketide-peptide antibiotic and phytotoxin produced by the plant pathogen Xanthomonas albilineans. It exhibits potent bactericidal activity at nanomolar concentrations against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including fluoroquinolone-resistant strains. Albicidin acts as a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor by targeting bacterial DNA gyrase. It employs a dual mechanism of action where it binds to the gyrase dimer interface and intercalates between cleaved DNA strands, preventing DNA religation and trapping the enzyme in a cleaved complex. This unique mechanism of action makes it a promising lead compound for the development of novel antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Other names

albicidin