Nad synthetase inhibitors and uses thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are compounds that inhibit the microbial NAD synthetase enzyme. For example, disclosed are compounds of the formula Ar—X—Ar—Y—L—Z—Q, wherein Q is QAror ArQ; Ar, Ar, and Arare independently aryl or heteroaryl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents; X, Y, and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of a covalent bond or groups containing one or more of C, H, N, O, S atoms; L is a linker and Qis an alkylenyl, alkylenyl carbonyloxy alkyl, or alkylenyl carbonylamino alkyl group, optionally having a substituent; a covalent bond; a group containing amidine or guanidine function wherein the amidine or guanidine may be optionally N-substituted with an alkyl; or a zwitterion; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also disclosed are methods which involve the use of the compounds of the present invention, for example, in treating or preventing a microbial infection in a mammal or plant, killing a prokaryote or decreasing prokaryotic growth, disinfecting a material or environment contaminated by a microbe, increasing food animal production, controlling harm to plants by a pest or insect, and combating agroterrorism. Examples of microbes affected by the compounds of the present invention are bacteria and fungi.