Role of prodigiosin and chitinases in antagonistic activity of the bacterium Serratia marcescens against the fungus Didymella applanata

Biochemistry (Mosc). 2012 Aug;77(8):910-6. doi: 10.1134/S0006297912080123.

Abstract

The molecular features of antagonism of the bacterium Serratia marcescens against the plant pathogenic fungus Didymella applanata have been studied. The chitinases and the red pigment prodigiosin (PG) of S. marcescens were isolated and characterized. Specific antifungal activity of the purified PG and chitinases against D. applanata was tested in vitro. The antagonistic properties of several S. marcescens strains exhibiting different levels of PG and chitinase production were analyzed in vitro with regard to D. applanata. It was found that the ability of S. marcescens to suppress the vital functions of D. applanata depends mainly on the level of PG production, whereas chitinase production does not provide the bacterium with any competitive advantage over the fungus.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Ascomycota / drug effects*
  • Ascomycota / growth & development
  • Ascomycota / metabolism
  • Chitinases / isolation & purification
  • Chitinases / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Prodigiosin / chemistry
  • Prodigiosin / isolation & purification
  • Prodigiosin / pharmacology*
  • Serratia marcescens / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Chitinases
  • Prodigiosin