Inhibitors of Pantothenate Kinase: Novel Antibiotics for Staphylococcal Infections

Abstract

Pantothenate kinase (CoaA) catalyzes the first step of the coenzyme A biosynthetic pathway. Here we report the identification of the Staphylococcus aureus coaA gene and characterization of the enzyme. We have also identified a series of low-molecular-weight compounds which are effective inhibitors of S. aureus CoaA.