Designing analogs of ticlopidine, a wall teichoic acid inhibitor, to avoid formation of its oxidative metabolites

The thienopyridine antiplatelet agent, ticlopidine and its analog, clopidogrel, have been shown to potentiate the action of β-lactam antibiotics, reversing the methicillin-resistance phenotype of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in vitro. Interestingly, these thienopyridines inhibit the action of TarO, the first enzyme in the synthesis of wall teichoic acid, an important cell wall polymer in Gram-positive bacteria. In the …