Synthesis of electrophilic inhibitors of LuxS, a quorum sensing enzyme

CHED 890

Colleen O'Loughlin, colough1@ithaca.edu and Scott Ulrich, sulrich@ithaca.edu. Department of Chemistry, Ithaca College, Center for Natural Sciences, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850
Quorum Sensing is a chemical communication system in bacteria used to sense cell density through the synthesis, secretion and detection of signaling molecules called autoinducers (AI's). AI-2 is a furanone borate ester autoinducer linked to virulence in several pathogenic bacteria. Here we describe mechanism-based electrophilic inhibitors of the AI-2 synthase, LuxS. Inhibition of LuxS could prevent pathogenic behavior and be a new type of antibiotic.