Specific targeting of transcriptional T-box riboswitches leads to effective inhibition of S. aureus

Abstract

T-box riboswitches belong to a specific class of RNA regulatory elements that control gene expression in Gram-positive bacteria, including prominent human pathogens. They sense the availability of amino acids by detecting the aminoacylation status of their cognate tRNAs and regulate the expression of genes involved in aminoacylation, amino acid transport, and metabolism. Recent advances in the structures and mechanisms of several regulatory noncoding RNAs among pathogenic bacteria have garnered attention for the development of a new generation of species-specific antibacterials. The frequently acquired resistance against current antibiotics has emerged as a significant challenge for healthcare systems and a serious threat to public health. Herein, we report the characterization of an effective T-box riboswitch inhibitor, termed T-box-i, which efficiently disrupts T-box riboswitch-mediated transcription in vivo. T-box-i was selected through a virtual screening campaign of commercially available small molecules against high-resolution crystallographic structures of T-box riboswitches. It exhibited no cytotoxicity in mammalian cells nor induced antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus cultures. These findings provide valuable insights into exploiting T-box riboswitches as antibiotic targets and underscore the therapeutic potential of compounds that selectively target extensively structured regulatory RNA elements and interfaces to combat drug-resistant pathogens.