title: The antibacterial activity and mechanism of ginkgolic acid C15:1.
abstract: The present study investigated the antibacterial activity and underlying mechanisms of ginkgolic acid (GA) C15:1 monomer using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled bacteria strains.
  
  
  
  GA presented significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria but generally did not affect the growth of Gram-negative bacteria. The studies of the antibacterial mechanism indicated that large amounts of GA (C15:1) could penetrate GFP-labeled Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in a short period of time, and as a result, led to the quenching of GFP in bacteria. In vitro results demonstrated that GA (C15:1) could inhibit the activity of multiple proteins including DNA polymerase. In vivo results showed that GA (C15:1) could significantly inhibit the biosynthesis of DNA, RNA and B. amyloliquefaciens proteins.
  
  
  
  We speculated that GA (C15:1) achieved its antibacterial effect through inhibiting the protein activity of B. amyloliquefaciens. GA (C15:1) could not penetrate Gram-negative bacteria in large amounts, and the lipid soluble components in the bacterial cell wall could intercept GA (C15:1), which was one of the primary reasons that GA (C15:1) did not have a significant antibacterial effect on Gram-negative bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Co-Innovation Centre for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.|College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
authors.forename: Zhebin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.affiliation: Co-Innovation Centre for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China. wucaie@njfu.edu.cn.|College of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China. wucaie@njfu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Caie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Co-Innovation Centre for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.|College of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
authors.forename: Gongjian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: College of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
authors.forename: Zhenxing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Co-Innovation Centre for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.|College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
authors.forename: Fuliang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069977:Bacillus amyloliquefaciens / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012459:Salicylates / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012459:Salicylates; C112485:ginkgolic acid
keywords: Antibacterial activity; GA; Green fluorescent protein