Virulence and biofilm inhibition of 3-methoxycinnamic acid against Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Pan, Deng1,2; Wang, Xing-Yun1; Zhou, Jin-Wei3; Yang, Liang4; Khan, Abbas5,6; Wei, Dong-Qing5,6; Li, Jun-Jian1,2; Jia, Ai-Qun1,2,7

2022-08-01

10.1111/jam.15774

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY   Impact Factor & Quartile

1364-5072

1365-2672

Aims In the current study the anti-virulence and anti-biofilm activities of the cinnamic acid derivative, 3-methoxycinnamic acid, was investigated against Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Methods and Results Based on the disc diffusion test and beta-galactosidase activity assay, 3-methoxycinnamic acid was shown to interfere with the quorum sensing (QS) system of A. tumefaciens. Crystal violet staining assay, phenol-sulfuric acid method, Bradford protein assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that the biofilm formation of A. tumefaciens was inhibited after the treatment of 3-methoxycinnamic acid. Employing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of culture supernatant revealed that the production of 3-oxo-octanoylhomoserine lactone (3-oxo-C8-HSL) decreased concentration-dependently after treatment with 3-methoxycinnamic acid. Swimming and chemotaxis assays also indicated that 3-methoxycinnamic acid had a good effect on reducing the motility and chemotaxis of A. tumefaciens. In addition, the RT-qPCR, molecular docking and simulations further demonstrated that 3-methoxycinnamic acid could competitively inhibit the binding of 3-oxo-C8-HSL to TraR and down-regulate virulence-related genes. Conclusions 3-Methoxycinnamic acid is proved to have good anti-virulence and anti-biofilm activities against A. tumefaciens. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first study that investigates the anti-virulence and anti-biofilm activities of 3-methoxycinnamic acid against A. tumefaciens. With its potential QS-related virulence and biofilm inhibitory activities, 3-methoxycinnamic acid is expected to be developed as a potent pesticide or adjuvant for the prevention and treatment of crown gall caused by A. tumefaciens.

3-methoxycinnamic acid Agrobacterium tumefaciens biofilm inhibition quorum sensing virulence

SCI

English

Others

Jiangsu Youth Talent Promotion Project[TJ-2021-066] ; General Projects of Natural Science Research in Universities of Jiangsu Province[20KJB180019] ; Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province["221CXTD434","319QN165"]

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology ; Microbiology

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology ; Microbiology

WOS:000842824600001

WILEY

BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY

Web of Science

1.Hainan Univ, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Haikou 570228, Hainan, Peoples R China
2.Hainan Univ, State Key Lab Marine Resource Utilizat South Chin, Haikou, Hainan, Peoples R China
3.Xuzhou Univ Technol, Sch Food & Biol Engn, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, Peoples R China
4.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Med, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
5.Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Life Sci & Biotechnol, Dept Bioinformat & Biol Stat, Shanghai, Peoples R China
6.Zhongjing Res & Industrializat Inst Chinese Med, Nayang, Peoples R China
7.Hainan Univ, One Hlth Inst, Haikou, Hainan, Peoples R China

Pan, Deng,Wang, Xing-Yun,Zhou, Jin-Wei,et al. Virulence and biofilm inhibition of 3-methoxycinnamic acid against Agrobacterium tumefaciens[J]. JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY,2022.

Pan, Deng.,Wang, Xing-Yun.,Zhou, Jin-Wei.,Yang, Liang.,Khan, Abbas.,...&Jia, Ai-Qun.(2022).Virulence and biofilm inhibition of 3-methoxycinnamic acid against Agrobacterium tumefaciens.JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY.

Pan, Deng,et al."Virulence and biofilm inhibition of 3-methoxycinnamic acid against Agrobacterium tumefaciens".JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY (2022).