A novel series of β-lactam derivatives that was designed and synthesized to target RGD-binding and leukocyte integrins is reported. The compound library was evaluated by investigating the effects on integrin-mediated cell adhesion and cell signaling in cell lines expressing αβ, αβ, αβ, αβ, αβ, αβ, and αβ integrins. SAR analysis of the new series of azetidinones enabled the recognition of structural elements associated with integrin selectivity. We obtained selective and potent agonists that could induce cell adhesion and promote cell signaling mediated by αβ, αβ, αβ, or αβ integrin, and antagonists for the integrins αβ and αβ as well as αβ and αβ, preventing the effects elicited by the respective endogenous agonists.
The design, synthesis, and antibacterial activity of 4-alkyliden-azetidin-2-ones as new antimicrobial agents against multidrug-resistant pathogens is reported. 4-Alkyliden-azetidin-2-ones were easily obtained using an original protocol starting from 4-acetoxy-azetidinones and diazoesters. Parent compounds were further elaborated to obtain a small library of 4-alkylidene derivatives. A molecular modeling approach using GRID descriptors based on the concept of VRS identified attractive drug candidates and contributed to the rationalization of functional group effects in QSARs. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the new agents was evaluated against 43 recent clinical isolates of antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens by determining their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The most active compound showed MIC values ranging from 0.25 to 32 mg/L against some of the bacterial species tested. Interestingly, some compounds demonstrated similar activity against methicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus suggesting possible alternative mechanisms of action of these agents, supported by citotoxicity and preliminary scanning electron microscopy studies.
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