Figure 4 | Scientific Reports

Figure 4

From: Zn(II) mediates vancomycin polymerization and potentiates its antibiotic activity against resistant bacteria

Figure 4

Zn(II) interacts with the N-terminal methylleucine of vancomycin to produce a novel polymer of dimers. (a) Crystal structure of vancomycin-Zn(II) determined by X-ray crystallography. Zn(II) ions (indicated by arrows) hold dimers of vancomycin in a polymeric structure, as also illustrated in the schematic representation showing the arrangement of vancomycin molecules (coloured rectangles, stacked in dimers) and Zn(II) ions in the polymer. The inset shows Zn(II) joining adjacent vancomycin dimers via ionic interaction with the carbonyl (in red) and secondary amine (in blue) groups of the N-terminal methylleucine group. (b) Chemical structure of vancomycin indicating the site of interaction with Zn(II) relative to Cu(II).

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