Emodin, a natural inhibitor of protein kinase CK2, suppresses growth, hyphal development, and biofilm formation of Candida albicans.
Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-anthraquinone) is a natural secondary plant product, originally isolated from the rhizomes of Rheum palmatum. Many reports show its diuretic, vasorelaxant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-ulcerogenic, immunosuppressive, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and anticancer potential. Emodin is a pleiotropic molecule capable of interacting with several major molecular targets, e.g. NF-κB, AKT/mTOR and STAT3. The compound can also act as an inhibitor of some protein kinases, with special affinity to protein kinase CK2. The aim of the presented report was to evaluate antifungal properties of emodin and its activity towards CK2 isolated from Candida cells. Our studies revealed that the compound suppressed growth of the cells of reference strains as well as clinical Candida strains, with minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal fungicidal concentration values between 12.5 and 200 μg/mL. Moreover, at a low concentration, the compound was able to effectively stop hyphal formation, thus showing a distinct antivirulent potential. Interestingly, we showed that emodin added to Candida culture inhibited the phosphorylation of many cellular proteins, presumably owing to the inhibition of protein kinase CK2. Notably, the enzyme isolated from the Candida cells was susceptible to emodin with IC50of 2.8 μg/mL. Indeed, our computational modelling revealed that emodin was able to occupy the ATP-binding pocket of CK2. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, ul. Konstantynów 1i, 20-708, Lublin, Poland.
Monika
M
Janeczko
Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, ul. Konstantynów 1i, 20-708, Lublin, Poland.
Maciej
M
Masłyk
Konrad
0000-0001-6870-845X
K
Kubiński
Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, ul. Konstantynów 1i, 20-708, Lublin, Poland.
Hieronim
H
Golczyk
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D047390:Casein Kinase II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004642:Emodin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D025301:Hyphae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D047390:Casein Kinase II; D004642:Emodin
Candida albicans; biofilm; emodin; hyphae; protein kinase CK2