Screening for Inhibitors of DNA Replication in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Using a model Gram (+) organism, Bacillus subtilis, we propose to transfer to the MLPCN, a robust high throughput screening assay targeting the DNA Polymerase III holoenzyme. Small molecules discovered via screening of this target will be prioritized using appropriate biochemical specificity and microbiological activity assays to select inhibitors that have the potential to be developed into antibacterial and step-specific perturbants of DNA replication pathways. This model organism is closely related to most common Gram (+) human pathogens such as S. aureus, S. pyogenes and the biodefense category A organism, Bacillus anthracis. <P>