Compounds for inhibiting bacterial growth via phosphatidylglycerol binding

Abstract

Antibacterial small molecule compounds, termed liptins, bind to phosphatidylglycerol in bacterial plasma membranes. The small molecule compounds comprise a three-dimensional complementary binding pocket for phosphatidylglycerol, disrupting membrane function in a bacteriostatic or bactericidal manner. Methods of inhibiting bacterial growth and/or treating Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterial infection using such compounds are also disclosed.