Attenuation of Vibrio fischeri quorum sensing using rationally designed polymers

Biomacromolecules. 2010 Apr 12;11(4):975-80. doi: 10.1021/bm901451j.

Abstract

A first attempt to attenuate the quorum sensing (QS) of a marine heterotroph microorganism, Vibrio fischeri , using signal molecule-sequestering polymers (SSPs) is presented. A set of rationally designed polymers with affinity toward a signal molecule of V. fischeri , N-(beta-ketocaproyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C6-AHL) was produced. It is reported that computationally designed polymers could sequester a signal molecule of V. fischeri and prevent QS-controlled phenotypes (in this case, bioluminescence) from being up-regulated. It was proven that the attenuation of bioluminescence of V. fischeri was due to sequestration of the signal molecule by specific polymers and not due to the toxicity of polymer or nonspecific depletion of nutrients. The ability to disrupt the bacterial communication using easy to synthesize and chemically inert polymers could provide a new concept for the development of pharmaceuticals and susceptible device coatings such as catheters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • 4-Butyrolactone / chemical synthesis
  • 4-Butyrolactone / chemistry
  • 4-Butyrolactone / pharmacology
  • Aliivibrio fischeri / physiology*
  • Computational Biology
  • Drug Design*
  • Luminescent Measurements*
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / pharmacology*
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects*
  • Vibrio Infections / drug therapy*
  • Vibrio Infections / metabolism

Substances

  • Polymers
  • N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-3-aminodihydro-2(3H)-furanone
  • 4-Butyrolactone