R419 Inhibitors of Pectobacterium Virulence Factors
Contractor :
Aim: To utilise the understanding of the genes and pathways involved in soft rot to try and develop low molecular weight compounds that block some of the important steps that allow Pectobacterium atrosepticum to cause rotting.
Industry Challenge
Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba) (formerly known as Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica (Eca)) is one of the main causative agents of tuber soft rot. It is also known as the cause of aerial stem rot (or “blackleg”). Although the economic cost of Pbarelated potato disease is difficult to accurately assess, given the size of the GB industry (5.9 million tons of potatoes were produced in 2008, with an average price of £125 per ton) these losses cumulatively run to millions of pounds annually. There are no effective anti-rot agents on the market. The development of such anti-rot interventions would therefore offer a significant benefit to the British potato industry.
Collaboration
University of Cambridge
Approach
The project builds on studies at the University of Cambridge which showed that production of the enzymes that lead to soft rot is controlled by the nutritional status of the Pba bacterium.
The anticipated outcomes of this project are:
a) Validation of ppGpp production/reception as a target for antibacterial compound development. One or more small molecules which specifically block ppGpp-dependent production of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes in Eca.