Recent advances in mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 inhibitor drug design for mycobacterial infections.

Introduction: Tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are notoriously difficult to treat, requiring long-courses of intensive multi-drug therapies associated with adverse side effects. To identify better therapeutics, whole cell screens have identified novel pharmacophores, a surprisingly high number of which target an essential lipid transporter known as MmpL3.

Areas Covered: This paper summarizes what is known about MmpL3, its mechanism of lipid transport and therapeutic potential, and provides an overview of the different classes of MmpL3 inhibitors currently under development.