Grepafloxacin, a Dimethyl Derivative of Ciprofloxacin, Acts Preferentially through Gyrase in Streptococcus pneumoniae: Role of the C-5 Group in Target Specificity

Grepafloxacin, a 5-methyl-7-piperazinyl-3"-methyl analogue of ciprofloxacin, was used to obtain stepwise-selected mutants of Streptococcus pneumoniae 7785. Analysis of the quinolone resistance-determining regions of the gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE genes in these mutants revealed that gyrA mutations preceded those in parC. Given that ciprofloxacin (5-H,7-piperazinyl) and AM-1121 (5-H,7-piperazinyl-3"-methyl) both act through topoisomerase IV, we conclude that the 5-methyl group of grepafloxacin favors gyrase in S. pneumoniae.