Borrelidin, a potent antifungal agent: insight into the antifungal mechanism against Phytophthora sojae

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Oct 3;60(39):9874-81. doi: 10.1021/jf302857x. Epub 2012 Sep 24.

Abstract

Borrelidin has high and specific antifungal activity against Phytophthora sojae . To explore the antifungal mechanism of borrelidin against P. sojae , the relationship between the antifungal activity of borrelidin and the concentration of threonine was evaluated. The results demonstrated that the growth-inhibitory effect of borrelidin on the growth of P. sojae was antagonized by threonine in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) may be the potential target of borrelidin. Subsequently, the inhibition of the enzymatic activity of ThrRS by borrelidin in vitro was confirmed. Furthermore, the detailed interaction between ThrRS and borrelidin was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD), implying a tight binding of borrelidin to ThrRS. Taken together, these results suggest that the antifungal activity of borrelidin against P. sojae was mediated by inhibition of ThrRS via the formation of the ThrRS-borrelidin complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / metabolism
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Alcohols / metabolism
  • Fatty Alcohols / pharmacology
  • Fungal Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Phytophthora / drug effects*
  • Phytophthora / enzymology
  • Phytophthora / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Threonine / metabolism
  • Threonine-tRNA Ligase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Threonine-tRNA Ligase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Fatty Alcohols
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Threonine
  • borrelidin
  • Threonine-tRNA Ligase