Bacterial Alkaloids Prevent Amoebal Predation. Issue 31 (13th June 2016) - Klapper, Martin
Abstract: Bacterial defense mechanisms have evolved to protect bacteria against predation by nematodes, predatory bacteria, or amoebae. We identified novel bacterial alkaloids (pyreudiones A–D) that protect the producer, Pseudomonas fluorescens HKI0770, against amoebal predation. Isolation, structure elucidation, total synthesis, and a proposed biosynthetic pathway for these structures are presented. The generation of P. fluorescens gene‐deletion mutants unable to produce pyreudiones rendered the bacterium edible to a variety of soil‐dwelling amoebae. Abstract : You eat me, I kill you : A set of bacterial pyrrolizidine alkaloids (pyreudiones A–D) were discovered that protect the producer, Pseudomonas fluorescens HKI0770, against amoebal predation. Isolation, structure elucidation, total synthesis, a proposed biosynthetic pathway for these structures, and gene‐deletion experiments are presented.