Tuning the Effects of Bacterial Membrane Permeability through Photo-Isomerization of Antimicrobial Cationic Amphiphiles

Joana Salta, Raphael I. Benhamou, Ido M. Herzog, Micha Fridman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several important antimicrobial drugs act by permeabilizing cell membranes. In this study, we showed that the intensity of membrane permeability caused by antimicrobial cationic amphiphiles can be modified not only by their concentration but also through light-induced isomerization of their lipid segment. Two types of photo-isomerizable cationic amphiphiles were developed and the effects of photo-isomerization on bacterial growth and membrane permeability were evaluated. One photo-isomer inhibited cell growth and division, whereas the other photo-isomer led to a rapid and lethal bacterial membrane-disrupting effect. The switch from “on” to “off” can be obtained by either the cis- or trans-isomer depending on the bacterial strain and the type of cationic amphiphile. These cationic amphiphiles offer a novel tool for research and industrial applications that require light-controlled bacterial membrane permeabilization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12724-12728
Number of pages5
JournalChemistry - A European Journal
Volume23
Issue number52
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Sep 2017

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israel Science Foundation6/14

    Keywords

    • antimicrobial
    • cationic amphiphiles
    • light-induced switching
    • membrane-permeabilizing molecules
    • photoisomerization

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