Burkholderia thailandensis Methylated Hydroxyalkylquinolines: Biosynthesis and Antimicrobial Activity in Cocultures
Jennifer R. Klaus, Charlotte D. Majerczyk, Stephanie L. Moon, Natalie A. Eppler, Sierra Smith, Emily Tuma, Marie‐Christine Groleau, Kyle L. Asfahl, Nicole E. Smalley, Hillary S. Hayden, Marianne Piochon, Patrick N. Ball, Ajai A. Dandekar, Charles Gauthier, Éric Déziel, Josephine R. Chandler
Abstract
The soil bacterium Burkholderia thailandensis produces 2-alkyl-4(1 H )-quinolones that are mostly methylated 4-hydroxyalkenylquinolines, a family of relatively unstudied metabolites similar to molecules also synthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Several of the methylated 4-hydroxyalkenylquinolines have antimicrobial activity against other species. We show that Bacillus subtilis strain 168 is particularly susceptible to N -oxidated methylalkenylquinolines (HMAQ-NOs). We confirmed that HMAQ-NO biosynthesis requires the previously unstudied protein HmqL. These results provide new information about the biology of 2-alkyl-4(1 H )-quinolones, particularly the methylated 4-hydroxyalkenylquinolines, which are unique to B. thailandensis . This study also has importance for understanding B. thailandensis secondary metabolites and has implications for potential therapeutic development.