51788-94-4Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Easily Accessible, Highly Potent, Photocontrolled Modulators of Bacterial Communication
Hansen, Mickel J.,Hille, Jacques I.C.,Szymanski, Wiktor,Driessen, Arnold J.M.,Feringa, Ben L.
, p. 1293 - 1301 (2019)
External control of bacterial communication—quorum sensing—allows for the regulation of a multitude of biological processes. Herein, we describe the development of a new synthetic methodology, as well as the characterization, photoisomerization, and biological evaluation of a privileged series of novel photoswitchable quorum-sensing agonists and antagonists. The presented method allows for the rapid and convenient synthesis of previously unknown photoswitchable agonists with up to 70% quorum-sensing induction and inhibitors reaching up to 40% inhibition, which significantly extends the level of photocontrol over bacterial communication achieved before. Remarkably, for the lead photoswitchable agonist, a >700-fold difference in activity was observed between the irradiated and non-irradiated forms, which allows for antagonism-to-agonism switching upon exposure to light, showing levels of control unprecedented in photopharmacology. Finally, utilizing this system, we were able to regulate toxin production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa with light. Photopharmacology is an emerging approach aimed at the regulation of biological function with light. Herein, the application of molecular photoswitches allows for the reversible switching between two distinct structural states of bioactive compounds. Bacterial communication (quorum sensing) is an interesting target for photopharmacology, from the perspective of both clinical and basic research, because of its implications for pathogenicity of bacteria and complex biological mechanism of action. By the novel synthesis and application of photoswitchable modulators, we were able to reversibly control bacterial communication with light. Remarkably, one of our lead compounds allows the control of bacterial communication with very high selectivity, switching from a quorum-sensing inhibitor to a quorum-sensing activator upon irradiation with light, which was further exemplified by the control of quorum-sensing-regulated toxin production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. By applying the photopharmacological approach, bacterial communication can be controlled with light through the application of photoswitchable modulators. Interestingly, one of the lead photoswitchable modulators of bacterial communication, presented herein, shows a remarkable (>700-fold) difference in activity between the non-irradiated and irradiated states. The photoresponsive quorum-sensing modulators can be used to control toxin production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and have a promising outlook as next-generation research tools.
