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Bacillomycin D: an iturin with antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus
A L Moyne1, R Shelby, T E Cleveland
1Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, 209 Life Sciences Building, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. amoyne@acesag.auburn.edu
Aims:
In a search for an antifungal peptide with a high activity against Aspergillus flavus, Bacillus subtilis AU195 was selected from a collection of isolates with antagonistic activity against A. flavus.
Methods And Results:
To identify the antifungal peptides, a protein purification scheme was developed based on the detection of the antifungal activity in purified fractions against A. flavus. Two lipopeptides were purified with anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Their masses were determined to be 1045 and 1059 m/z with mass spectrometry, and their peptide moiety was identical to bacillomycin D.
Conclusion:
AU195 synthesized a mixture of two antifungal bacillomycin D analogues with masses of 1045 and 1059, the 14 mass unit difference representing the difference between a C15 and a C16 lipid chain.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Both bacillomycin D analogues were active at the same concentration against A. flavus, but the different lipid chain length apparently affected the activity of the lipopeptide against other fungi.
Insights
Bacillus subtilis AU195 produces two antifungal bacillomycin D analogues effective against Aspergillus flavus. These lipopeptides, differing in lipid chain length, show potent antifungal activity, highlighting their potential in agricultural and medical applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Aspergillus flavus poses a significant threat to agriculture and human health.
- Antifungal peptides are a promising alternative to conventional antifungal agents.
- Bacillus subtilis is known to produce various bioactive compounds, including antimicrobial peptides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify antifungal peptides from Bacillus subtilis AU195 with high activity against Aspergillus flavus.
- To characterize the chemical structure and antifungal properties of the purified compounds.
Main Methods:
- Screening of Bacillus subtilis isolates for antagonistic activity against Aspergillus flavus.
- Protein purification using anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography.
- Mass spectrometry for molecular weight determination and structural analysis.
Main Results:
- Two lipopeptides with antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus were purified from Bacillus subtilis AU195.
- The purified lipopeptides were identified as bacillomycin D analogues with masses of 1045 and 1059 m/z.
- The mass difference of 14 units was attributed to variations in the lipid chain length (C15 vs. C16).
Conclusions:
- Bacillus subtilis AU195 synthesizes a mixture of two bacillomycin D analogues with distinct lipid chain lengths.
- Both analogues demonstrated potent activity against Aspergillus flavus at similar concentrations.
- Lipid chain length influenced the activity of these lipopeptides against other fungal species.
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