A series of new synthetic ligand compounds which chelate divalent cations w
as examined for the antibacterial activities of the compounds. Only 2 of 14
synthetic chelators, 9-trans-anthryl-1, 4, 8, 11-tetraazatetradecane (No.
6) and bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine (No. 13) showed antibacterial activities,
whereas none of the diamines, hydrophilic triamines nor tetramines showed a
ntibacterial activities. Chelators No. 6 and No. 13 inhibited the growth of
both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria at doses of 25-200 mu g/ml, comp
arable to those of common antibiotics such as polymixin B, fosfomycin and m
acrolides. Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) potentiated these antibacteri
al activities, whereas an inhibitory effect of Mg2+ on the MICs of these ch
elators was observed. Moreover, these chelators enhanced the leakage of per
iplasmic beta-lactamase, It is therefore suggested that chelators No. 6 and
No. 13 disrupt both the membranes and cytoplasmic functions of bacteria, r
esulting in cell death.