TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the Modes of Action of the Antimicrobial Chalcones BC1 and T9A
AU - Morao, Luana G.
AU - Lorenzoni, Andre S. G.
AU - Chakraborty, Parichita
AU - Ayusso, Gabriela M.
AU - Cavalca, Lucia B.
AU - Santos, Mariana B.
AU - Marques, Beatriz C.
AU - Dilarri, Guilherme
AU - Zamuner, Caio
AU - Regasini, Luis O.
AU - Ferreira, Henrique
AU - Scheffers, Dirk-Jan
PY - 2020/10
Y1 - 2020/10
N2 - Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X. citri) is an important phytopathogen and causes Asiatic Citrus Canker (ACC). To control ACC, copper sprays are commonly used. As copper is an environmentally damaging heavy metal, new antimicrobials are needed to combat citrus canker. Here, we explored the antimicrobial activity of chalcones, specifically the methoxychalcone BC1 and the hydroxychalcone T9A, against X. citri and the model organism Bacillus subtilis. BC1 and T9A prevented growth of X. citri and B. subtilis in concentrations varying from 20 µg/mL to 40 µg/mL. BC1 and T9A decreased incorporation of radiolabeled precursors of DNA, RNA, protein, and peptidoglycan in X. citri and B. subtilis. Both compounds mildly affected respiratory activity in X. citri, but T9A strongly decreased respiratory activity in B. subtilis. In line with that finding, intracellular ATP decreased strongly in B. subtilis upon T9A treatment, whereas BC1 increased intracellular ATP. In X. citri, both compounds resulted in a decrease in intracellular ATP. Cell division seems not to be affected in X. citri, and, although in B. subtilis the formation of FtsZ-rings is affected, a FtsZ GTPase activity assay suggests that this is an indirect effect. The chalcones studied here represent a sustainable alternative to copper for the control of ACC, and further studies are ongoing to elucidate their precise modes of action.
AB - Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X. citri) is an important phytopathogen and causes Asiatic Citrus Canker (ACC). To control ACC, copper sprays are commonly used. As copper is an environmentally damaging heavy metal, new antimicrobials are needed to combat citrus canker. Here, we explored the antimicrobial activity of chalcones, specifically the methoxychalcone BC1 and the hydroxychalcone T9A, against X. citri and the model organism Bacillus subtilis. BC1 and T9A prevented growth of X. citri and B. subtilis in concentrations varying from 20 µg/mL to 40 µg/mL. BC1 and T9A decreased incorporation of radiolabeled precursors of DNA, RNA, protein, and peptidoglycan in X. citri and B. subtilis. Both compounds mildly affected respiratory activity in X. citri, but T9A strongly decreased respiratory activity in B. subtilis. In line with that finding, intracellular ATP decreased strongly in B. subtilis upon T9A treatment, whereas BC1 increased intracellular ATP. In X. citri, both compounds resulted in a decrease in intracellular ATP. Cell division seems not to be affected in X. citri, and, although in B. subtilis the formation of FtsZ-rings is affected, a FtsZ GTPase activity assay suggests that this is an indirect effect. The chalcones studied here represent a sustainable alternative to copper for the control of ACC, and further studies are ongoing to elucidate their precise modes of action.
KW - Asiatic citrus canker
KW - Bacillus subtilis
KW - Chalcone
KW - Xanthomonas citri
U2 - 10.3390/molecules25204596
DO - 10.3390/molecules25204596
M3 - Article
SN - 1431-5157
VL - 25
JO - Molecules
JF - Molecules
IS - 20
M1 - 4596
ER -