S-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)isothiourea

A22 (S-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)isothiourea) is a synthetic small molecule that acts as a reversible inhibitor of the bacterial actin homolog **MreB**, disrupting cell shape and division in rod-shaped bacteria such as *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*. A22 binds to the nucleotide-binding pocket of MreB, interfering with ATP binding, inhibiting MreB polymerization, and thereby disrupting the bacterial cytoskeleton. This morphological shift from rod to coccoid form impairs essential bacterial functions including nutrient uptake and cell division. Due to cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human cells at higher concentrations, A22 is primarily used as a research tool for probing the prokaryotic cytoskeleton and for studying bacterial morphogenesis, rather than for clinical antibiotic use.

Other names

S-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)isothioureaMreB perturbing compound A22A22 hydrochlorideA-22 hydrochlorideA 22 hydrochloride