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Abiotic Hydrolysis Kinetics of N ‐Acyl‐L‐homoserine Lactones: Natural Silencing of Bacterial Quorum Sensing Signals
Author(s) -
Ziegler Eric W.,
Brown Alan B.,
Nesnas Nasri,
Palmer Andrew G.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of organic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1099-0690
pISSN - 1434-193X
DOI - 10.1002/ejoc.201900322
Subject(s) - quorum sensing , autoinducer , chemistry , quorum quenching , homoserine , bacteria , population , virulence , pseudomonas aeruginosa , pathogenic bacteria , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , combinatorial chemistry , biology , gene , genetics , demography , sociology
Virulence attenuation in pathogenic bacteria without the use of antibiotics reduces the threat of infection while limiting the evolution of multidrug resistant strains. In many bacteria, virulence is regulated by population density dependent genetic switches, a phenomenon known as quorum sensing (QS). QS depends on the synthesis, transmission, and perception of a variety of low molecular weight signal molecules generically classified as autoinducers . Gram‐negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa , predominantly “communicate” population density using N ‐acyl‐L‐homoserine lactones (AHLs). Crucial to developing Gram‐negative QS modulating strategies, as well as modeling the presence/absence of QS under “real‐world” conditions, is the ability to accurately estimate the relative levels of the ring‐closed (bioactive) and ring‐open (bio‐inactive) forms. While some AHLs have been studied for their hydrolysis (ring‐opening) rates, no quantitative and comprehensive model for degradation exists. Here, we employ 1 H‐NMR to monitor the hydrolysis of various AHLs under standard laboratory conditions at fixed acidities to develop such a model. Our model provides valuable insight into the availability of bioactive AHLs at relevant pH conditions and is a valuable tool in the development of QS‐control strategies and evaluation of AHL focused chemical assays and studies.