Melleolides impact fungal translation via elongation factor 2.

Dörfer M, Heine D, König S, Gore S, Werz O, Hertweck C, Gressler M, Hoffmeister D (2019) Melleolides impact fungal translation via elongation factor 2. Org Biomol Chem 17(19), 4906-4916.

Abstract

Melleolides from the honey mushroom Armillaria mellea represent a structurally diverse group of polyketide-sesquiterpene hybrids. Among various bioactivites, melleolides show antifungal effects against Aspergillus and other fungi. This bioactivity depends on a Δ2,4-double bond present in dihydroarmillylorsellinate (DAO) or arnamial, for example. Yet, the mode of action of Δ2,4-unsaturated, antifungal melleolides has been unknown. Here, we report on the molecular target of DAO in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Using a combination of synthetic chemistry to create a DAO-labelled probe, protein pulldown assays, MALDI-TOF-based peptide analysis and western blotting, we identify the eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2) as a binding partner of DAO. We confirm the inhibition of protein biosynthesis in vivo with an engineered A. nidulans strain producing the red fluorescent protein mCherry. Our work suggests a binding site dissimilar from that of the protein biosynthesis inhibitor sordarin, and highlights translational elongation as a valid antifungal drug target.

Leibniz-HKI-Authors

Maximilian Dörfer
Sagar Gore
Markus Greßler
Daniel Heine
Christian Hertweck
Dirk Hoffmeister

Identifier

doi: 10.1039/c9ob00562e

PMID: 31042251