Aminocarboxylic acids related to aspergillomarasmine A (AMA) and ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) are strong zinc-binders and inhibitors of the metallo-beta-lactamase NDM-1.

A series of aminocarboxylic acid analogues of aspergillomarasmine A (AMA) and ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) were chemoenzymatically synthesized via the addition of various mono- and diamine substrates to fumaric acid catalyzed by the enzyme EDDS lyase. Many of these novel AMA and EDDS analogues demonstrate potent inhibition of the bacterial metallo-β-lactamase NDM-1. Isothermal titration calorimetry assays revealed a strong correlation between the inhibitory potency of the compounds and their ability to bind zinc. Compounds 1a (AMA), 1b (AMB), 5 (EDDS), followed by 1d and 8a, demonstrate the highest synergy with meropenem resensitizing an NDM-1 producing strain of E. coli to this important carbapenem of last resort.