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Pheophytin a isolated from the seagrass Syringodium isoetifolium plausibly blocks umuC proteins of select bacterial pathogens, in silico
Author(s) -
Sathyanathan C.V.,
Jyothirmayi B.,
Sundaram L.R.,
Abhinand P.A.,
Eswaramoorthy R.,
Gnanambal K.M.E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.13312
Subject(s) - pheophytin , in silico , pathogenic bacteria , chemistry , human pathogen , bacteria , biology , biochemistry , photosynthesis , photosystem ii , genetics , gene
Aims This investigation is designed to evaluate the antibacterial efficiency of the noodle grass Syringodium isoetifolium , which is commonly found in the Indian coastal waters. Also, this study characterizes the active compound and predicts the mode of action in silico . Methods and Results Human pathogenic bacteria were treated with crude metabolites of S. isoetifolium . The potent fraction b was analysed by UV / VIS , Spectroscopy RP‐HPLC, FT ‐ IR , ESI ‐Mass and 1 H and 13 C NMR s and determined to be a hydrate of pheophytin a (C 55 H 74 N 4 O 6 ). The isolated compound Pheo had MIC values of 6·2 ± 0·7 ( Salmonella typhi ) and 12·5 ± 0·8 ( Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) μ g ml −1 . Molecular docking studies of the compound were done to find the binding sites on the pathogens using a Molegro Virtual Docker platform. Pheo targets umuC proteins by binding compactly to five amino acid residues with interaction energy of −3·66 and a Moldock score of −160·175. Conclusions Hence, we conclude that pheophytin a , besides being an accessory photosynthetic pigment, also has proven to be antibacterial against human pathogens. Lesser MIC values with definite binding sites predicted in silico are suggestive of a precise of action for this compound. Significance and Impact of the Study Easy extraction methods of the active compound that has a definite target render this under‐explored seagrass a good source of antibacterial compound against human pathogenic bacteria. This learning may favour more researches in this unexplored area to build up Pheo ‐based natural products as antibiotic therapies.