In silico druggability assessment of Escherichia coli FtsQ reveals tractable PPI interfaces in the divisome

Frlan, Rok (avtor)

Background/Objectives: Due to the widespread problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), there is an urgent need to identify new antibacterial targets that act through mechanisms distinct from those of existing antibiotics. One of these targets is the essential cell division protein FtsQ, which is a central hub of the Gram-negative divisome, but the druggability of its extensive protein–protein interaction (PPI) interfaces remains poorly defined. Here, we present a comprehensive structure-based in silico characterization of Escherichia coli FtsQ aimed at identifying and prioritizing druggable regions for PPI modulation. Methods: We analyzed E. coli FtsQ in both apo and complexed states (FtsQB, FtsQL, and FtsQBL) using a combination of pocket-mapping tools (FTMap and SiteMap), evolutionary conservation analysis (ConSurf), and structure property assessment (BLAST, ProBiS) to map and evaluate potential binding pockets of FtsQ protein. Results: Eight potential binding sites were predicted across the β and POTRA domains of FtsQ. One previously unreported site within the POTRA domain was prioritized as a candidate site, characterized by favorable druggability scores, strong evolutionary conservation, and a putative role in the FtsQ–FtsW/FtsN/FtsI interaction network. In contrast, two highly conserved sites at the FtsQ–FtsB/FtsL interaction interface were structurally flat, indicating limited suitability for classical small-molecule binding and greater compatibility with alternative modalities such as macrocycles or peptidomimetics. Conclusions: Although FtsQ lacks deep canonical binding pockets, this study proposes several conserved and potentially tractable regions as candidate sites, supporting its potential as a non-classical but promising antibacterial target for disrupting bacterial cytokinesis.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: antimicrobial resistance, gram-negative bacteria, FtsQ, bacterial cell division, divisome, protein–protein interactions, druggability assessment, structure-based drug design, in silico analysis, pocket mapping, POTRA domain, antibacterial targets
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FFA - Fakulteta za farmacijo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 29 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 15, iss. 5, art. 430
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182641
• UDK: 615.015.8+615.2-021.321
• ISSN pri članku: 2079-6382
• DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics15050430
• COBISS.SI-ID: 277083139
• Datum objave v RUL: 20.05.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Antibiotics
• Skrajšan naslov: Antibiotics
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2079-6382
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522975769

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: interakcije beljakovine-beljakovine, ocena zdravilne sposobnosti, načrtovanje zdravil na podlagi strukture, in silico analiza, kartiranje žepov, domena POTRA, antibakterijske tarče, bakterijska rezistenca, tarčna zdravila

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P1-0208
• Naslov: Farmacevtska kemija: načrtovanje, sinteza in vrednotenje učinkovin