Structure-based discovery and experimental verification of novel AI-2 quorum sensing inhibitors against Vibrio harveyi

ChemMedChem. 2008 Aug;3(8):1242-9. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.200800076.

Abstract

Quorum sensing has been implicated in the control of pathologically relevant bacterial behavior such as secretion of virulence factors, biofilm formation, sporulation, and swarming motility. The AI-2 quorum sensing pathway is found in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, antagonizing AI-2 quorum sensing is a possible approach to modifying bacterial behaviour. However, efforts in developing inhibitors of AI-2-mediated quorum sensing are especially lacking. High-throughput virtual screening using the V. harveyi LuxP crystal structure identified two compounds that were found to antagonize AI-2-mediated quorum sensing in V. harveyi without cytotoxicity. The sulfone functionality of these inhibitors was identified as critical to their ability to mimic the natural ligand in their interactions with Arg 215 and Arg 310 of the active site.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulfones / chemistry
  • Sulfones / pharmacology
  • Thioamides / chemistry
  • Thioamides / pharmacology
  • Vibrio / drug effects*
  • Vibrio / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • KM 03009
  • Sulfones
  • Thioamides