Discovery of a specific inhibitor of pyomelanin synthesis in Legionella pneumophila

Phenylalanine hydroxylase catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of pyomelanin, a pigment that aids in the acquisition of essential iron in certain bacteria. In this work, we present the development and application of a drug discovery protocol by targeting this enzyme in Legionella pneumophila, the major causative agent of Legionnaires' disease. We employ a combination of high-throughput screening to identify small-molecule binders, enzymatic activity measurements to identify inhibitors in vitro, and the verification of the inhibitory effect in vivo. The most potent inhibitor shows an IC₅₀ value in the low micromolar range and successfully abolishes the synthesis of pyomelanin in L. pneumophila cultures at 10 μM. Thus, this compound represents a novel and effective tool for investigating the role of pyomelanin in the biology and pathogenicity of this organism. Altogether, the results demonstrate a successful pathway for drug development focusing on binding specificity in the initial high-throughput screening steps.