title: Effect of monascus pigment derivatives on the electrophoretic mobility of bacteria, and the cell adsorption and antibacterial activities of pigments.
abstract: Various amino acid derivatives of monascus pigments were synthesized. The effects of pigment derivatives on the pigment adsorption ratio, electrophoretic mobility (EPM) of bacterial cells, and antibacterial activity were investigated under varying conditions of pigment type, pigment concentration, pH, and ionic strength. Two hydrophobic and two hydrophilic derivatives were selected as model pigments. There was a close relationship between the antimicrobial activity and the pigment adsorption ratio. Against Escherichia coli, the hydrophobic L-Tyr and L-Phe derivatives (log P = 3.18 and 3.57) exhibited high antimicrobial activities (MIC = 8 and 16 mg/L) and high cellular adsorption ratios (9.6 and 10.9 mg/L). The hydrophilic L-Glu and L-Asn derivatives (log P = 1.40 and 0.47) exhibited low activities (MIC = 64 and 128 mg/L) and low adsorption ratios (4.7 and 4.0 mg/L). The electrophoretic mobility of 11 different bacteria varied between -1.93 x 10(-8) and -1.19 x 10(-8) m(2) V(-1) s(-1) regardless of Gram(+) or Gram(-). The L-Phe derivative showed low MIC values (high antimicrobial activities) against bacteria with a high electrophoretic mobility. A positive linearity between the pigment adsorption ratio and the electrophoretic mobility was established. When the four pigment derivatives were added to E. coli solutions, the electrophoretic mobility of cells in all cases sharply increased with an increasing pigment concentration. The mobility value was high for hydrophobic pigment derivatives in descending order of L-Phe (0.8 x 10(-8) m(2) V(-1) s(-1)), L-Tyr (0.68 x 10(-8) m(2) V(-1) s(-1)), L-Glu (0.46 x 10(-8) m(2) V(-1) s(-1)), and L-Asn (0.44 x 10(-8) m(2) V(-1) s(-1)). Additional adsorption of the hydrophobic derivatives probably occurred due to a hydrophobic interaction between the pigment and the pigment-coated cells. The electrophoretic mobility decreased gradually with an increasing pH and/or ionic strength with both addition and no addition of the pigment derivatives. The pattern of change of the pigment adsorption ratio under varying pH and/or ionic strength values was similar to the pattern for electrophoretic mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Yonsei University, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chulyoung
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Heeyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chul Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015394:Molecular Structure; D032741:Monascus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010860:Pigments, Biological