Zafirlukast Inhibits Complexation of Lsr2 with DNA and Growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
ABSTRACTThe mycobacterial nucleoid-associated protein Lsr2 is a DNA-bridging protein that plays a role in condensation and structural organization of the genome and acts as a global repressor of gene transcription. Here we describe experiments demonstrating that zafirlukast inhibits the complexation between Lsr2 and DNAin vitro. Zafirlukast is shown to inhibit growth in two different species of mycobacteria tested but exhibits no growth inhibition ofEscherichia coli. The Lsr2 inhibitory activity is reflectedin vivoas determined by monitoring of transcription levels inMycobacterium tuberculosis. These data suggest that zafirlukast inhibits Lsr2 functionin vivo, promoting dysregulation of the expression of an array of genes typically bound by Lsr2 and hindering growth. Since zafirlukast likely operates by a mechanism distinct from currentM. tuberculosisdrugs and is currently used as a prophylactic treatment for asthma, it offers an intriguing lead for development of new treatments for tuberculosis.