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Antimicrob Agents Chemother

Title:		Ambuic acid inhibits the biosynthesis of cyclic peptide quormones in gram-positive bacteria
Author(s):		Nakayama J; Uemura Y; Nishiguchi K; Yoshimura N; Igarashi Y; Sonomoto K;
Address:		"Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School, Kyushu University, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. nakayama@agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp"
Journal Title:		Antimicrob Agents Chemother
Year:		2009
Volume:		20081117
Issue:		2
Page Number:		580 - 586
DOI:		10.1128/AAC.00995-08
ISSN/ISBN:		1098-6596 (Electronic) 0066-4804 (Print) 0066-4804 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Quorum sensing is a cell-density-dependent regulatory system in gram-positive bacteria and is often regulated by cyclic peptides called 'quormones,' which function as extracellular communication signals. With an aim to discover an antipathogenic agent targeting quorum sensing in gram-positive bacteria, we screened 153 samples of fungal butanol extracts with the guidance of the inhibition of quorum-sensing-mediated gelatinase production in Enterococcus faecalis. Following the screenings, we found that ambuic acid, a known secondary fungal metabolite, inhibited the quorum-sensing-mediated gelatinase production without influencing the growth of E. faecalis. We further demonstrated that ambuic acid targeted the biosynthesis of a cyclic peptide quormone called gelatinase biosynthesis-activating pheromone. Furthermore, ambuic acid also inhibited the biosynthesis of the cyclic peptide quormones of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria innocua. These results suggest the potential use of ambuic acid as a lead compound of antipathogenic drugs that target the quorum-sensing-mediated virulence expression of gram-positive bacteria"
Keywords:		"Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid Cyclohexanones/isolation & purification/*pharmacology Enterococcus faecalis/drug effects/metabolism Gelatinases/biosynthesis Gram-Positive Bacteria/*drug effects/*metabolism Hem;"
Notes:		"MedlineNakayama, Jiro Uemura, Yumi Nishiguchi, Kenzo Yoshimura, Norito Igarashi, Yasuhiro Sonomoto, Kenji eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2008/11/19 Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2009 Feb; 53(2):580-6. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00995-08. Epub 2008 Nov 17"