Mechanism of action of Nikkomycin Z

Nikkomycin Z is an experimental compound with antifungal properties. Like all nikkomycins, it consists of a pyrimidine nucleoside linked to a short peptide moiety. There are more than 14 naturally occurring nikkomycins and a number of synthetic analogs. Only the nikkomycin Z analog has shown clinically useful antifungal activity in vitro as well as in animal models.

Uses  

Despite extensive evaluation of nikkomycins for commercial development, no product has reached the marketplace. This is most likely due to the absence of clinically useful in vivo activity, a result of competition of endogenous peptides for dipeptide permease. Other possible reasons include degradation by various peptidases and the differential susceptibilities of the target isoenzyme(s) to the inhibitory effects of nikkomycins. 

Despite these drawbacks, nikkomycin Z is undergoing further clinical development for use in treatment of coccidioidomycosis. This compound is also a candidate for further study as an agent against other endemic fungi in combination with cell wall-active agents or triazoles.

Mechanism of action        

Nikkomycin Z is a potent competitive inhibitor of chitin synthase which leads to fungal growth inhibition and cell death. Its biological activity relies on its structural similarity to UDP-GlcNAc, the substrate for chitin biosynthesis. The susceptibility of an organism to nikkomycin Z depends on the chitin content as well as the differences in distribution and function of each of the chitin synthase isoenzymes. In addition, given that the active site of the enzyme is situated on the inner face of the fungal plasma membrane, the effectiveness of the compound is dependent on its ability to enter the cell; this process is mediated via a dipeptide permease-mediated peptide-uptake transport system. Finally, antifungal activity is dependent on the affinity of nikkomycin Z for each chitin synthase isoenzyme since the active site domains of the various isoenzymes are different.

Toxicity

Since chitin is absent in mammalian cells, toxicity is anticipated to be low. In animal models of endemic mycoses, the drug was well tolerated. No toxicity was demonstrated in mice at doses of up to 400 mg/kg body weight per day for 28 days.