IRON(III)-CHELATING RESINS .3. SYNTHESIS, IRON(III)-CHELATING PROPERTIES, AND IN-VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF COMPOUNDS CONTAINING 3-HYDROXY-2-METHYL-4(1H)-PYRIDINONE LIGANDS

The synthesis, iron(III)-chelating properties, and antibacterial activ ity of several compounds containing the 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyrid inone (HMP) moiety are described. Using the HMP derivatives iron(III) could be mobilized from iron(III)-binding proteins at physiological pH with a rate order of transferrin > lactoferrin > ferritin. Addition o f HMP-containing compounds to a growth medium at a concentration of 20 mM/L resulted in a complete inhibition of the growth of Escherichia c oli and about 90 % inhibition for Listeria inocua after 7 h of incubat ion at 37-degrees-C. After inhibition of bacteria growth by the HMP de rivatives growth started again when ferric ions were added to the medi um, which implies that the antibacterial activity is due to a limitati on of iron available to the organisms.