Bacterial metabolic and respiratory chain enzymes

Bacterial metabolic and respiratory chain enzymes represent a broad class of proteins essential for the survival and growth of bacteria by facilitating energy production and maintaining redox balance. This group includes key components of the electron transport chain (ETC) such as NADH dehydrogenases (NDH-1 and NDH-2), cytochrome complexes (e.g., cytochrome bc1 and cytochrome bd), and the F1F0-ATP synthase. These enzymes couple the oxidation of substrates to the generation of a proton motive force, which is subsequently used to drive the synthesis of ATP. Because several of these enzymes, such as NDH-2 and cytochrome bd oxidase, are either absent in humans or significantly different from their eukaryotic counterparts, they are highly attractive targets for the development of narrow-spectrum and potent antibiotics. For example, the diarylquinoline drug bedaquiline specifically inhibits the mycobacterial ATP synthase to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, while other agents like clofazimine and telacebec target the respiratory chain to deplete cellular energy stores and induce bacterial death.

Other names

Bacterial respiratory chainBacterial electron transport chain (ETC)Bacterial oxidative phosphorylation enzymesBacterial bioenergetic enzymesBacterial metabolic enzymes

Inhibition of ATP synthesis, disruption of the electron transport chain, and depletion of the proton motive force.