Membrane penetration is a critical event for a drug to have a desired therapeutic effect. Penetration of a mycobacterial membrane can be especially difficult due to its thick and waxy outer coating. The mycobacterial membrane and the rise in multi-drug resistance are two major reasons why tuberculosis is still an issue today. As a first line drug, pyrazinamide has been shown to have a pH dependent effect on mycobacterium tuberculosis and in a similar way, benzoic acid does as well. Both pyrazinamide and benzoic acid were able to dissipate the proton motive force across a membrane. To explore the pH dependence and ability of benzoic acid to dissipate the proton motive force across a membrane, two model membranes were employed. The first model membrane employed was the reverse micelle. With the combination of 1H, 1H-1H NOESY NMR and altering the AOT reverse micelle sizes, we were able to determine the penetration ability of benzoic acid at a water-surfactant interface. Langmuir monolayers were also used to evaluate the effects of benzoic has on a membrane and when these two methodologies are used in conjunction, it was possible to determine how benzoic acid interacts with an interface modeling a membrane.

Benzoic acid penetration of surfactant interfaces in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

251st National Meeting (2016)

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