virtual screening for the identification of novel inhibitors against dihydrodipicolinate reductase (DapB) of , a key enzyme of diaminopimelate pathway.

Non-compliance to lengthy antituberculosis (TB) treatment regimen, associated side effects, and emergence of drug-resistant strains of () emphasize the need to develop more effective anti-TB drugs. Here, we have evaluated the role of dihydrodipicolinate reductase (DapB), a component of the diaminopimelate pathway, which is involved in the biosynthesis of both lysine and mycobacterial cell wall. We showed that DapB is essential for the as well as intracellular growth of . We further utilized DapB, as a target for identification of inhibitors by employing virtual screening, and conducted various screening assays to identify inhibitors with potential to inhibit DapB activity and and intracellular growth of with no significant cytotoxicity against various mammalian cell lines. Altogether, DapB serves as an important drug target and a hit molecule, namely, 4-(3-Phenylazoquinoxalin-2-yl) butanoic acid methyl ester has been identified as an antimycobacterial molecule in our study.