The aminoglycoside antibiotics bind to the 16S bacterial rRNA and disturb the protein synthesis. One to four hydroxyl functions of the small aminoglycoside neamine were capped with phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, or quinolyl rings. The 3',4'- (6), 3',6- (7a), and the 3',4',6- (10a) 2-naphthylmethylene derivatives appeared to be active against sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. 10a also showed marked antibacterial activities against Gram (-) bacteria, including strains expressing enzymes modifying aminoglycosides, efflux pumps, or rRNA methylases. 7a and 10a revealed a weak and aspecific binding to a model bacterial 16S rRNA. Moreover, as compared to neomycin B, 10a showed a lower ability to decrease (3)H leucine incorporation into proteins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All together, our results suggest that the 3',4',6-tri-2-naphthylmethylene neamine derivative 10a should act against Gram (-) bacteria through a mechanism different from inhibition of protein synthesis, probably by membrane destabilization.

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