Discovery and Characterization of Pure RhlR Antagonists against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections

J Med Chem. 2020 Aug 13;63(15):8388-8407. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00630. Epub 2020 Aug 3.

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic human pathogen that forms biofilms and produces virulence factors via quorum sensing (QS). Blocking the QS system in P. aeruginosa is an excellent strategy to reduce biofilm formation and the production of virulence factors. RhlR plays an essential role in the QS system of P. aeruginosa. We synthesized 55 analogues based on the chemical structure of 4-gingerol and evaluated their RhlR inhibitory activities using the cell-based reporter strain assay. Comprehensive structure-activity relationship studies identified the alkynyl ketone 30 as the most potent RhlR antagonist. This compound displayed selective RhlR antagonism over LasR and PqsR, strong inhibition of biofilm formation, and reduced production of virulence factors in P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, the survival rate of Tenebrio molitor larvae treated with 30 in vivo greatly improved. Therefore, compound 30, a pure RhlR antagonist, can be utilized for developing QS-modulating molecules in the control of P. aeruginosa infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Catechols / chemistry
  • Catechols / pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Fatty Alcohols / chemistry
  • Fatty Alcohols / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Catechols
  • Fatty Alcohols
  • RhlR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • gingerol