Isoniazid is an antibacterial agent used primarily as a tuberculostatic.Target: AntibacterialIsoniazid is a prodrug and must be activated by a bacterial catalase-peroxidase enzyme that in M. tuberculosis is called KatG [1]. KatG couples the isonicotinic acyl with NADH to form isonicotinic acyl-NADH complex. This complex binds tightly to the enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase known as InhA, thereby blocking the natural enoyl-AcpM substrate and the action of fatty acid synthase. This process inhibits the synthesis of mycolic acid, required for the mycobacterial cell wall. A range of radicals are produced by KatG activation of isoniazid, including nitric oxide, which has also been shown to be important in the action of another antimycobacterial prodrug PA-824 [2, 3]. Isoniazid is bactericidal to rapidly dividing mycobacteria, but is bacteriostatic if the mycobacteria are slow-growing [4].
References:
[1]. Suarez, J., et al., An oxyferrous heme/protein-based radical intermediate is catalytically competent in the catalase reaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis catalase-peroxidase (KatG). J Biol Chem, 2009. 284(11): p. 7017-29.
[2]. Timmins, G.S., et al., Nitric oxide generated from isoniazid activation by KatG: source of nitric oxide and activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2004. 48(8): p. 3006-9.
[3]. Singh, R., et al., PA-824 kills nonreplicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis by intracellular NO release. Science, 2008. 322(5906): p. 1392-5.
[4]. Ahmad, Z., et al., Biphasic kill curve of isoniazid reveals the presence of drug-tolerant, not drug-resistant, Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the guinea pig. J Infect Dis, 2009. 200(7): p. 1136-43.