Downregulation of fungal cytochrome c peroxidase expression by antifungal quinonemethide triterpenoids

Abstract

To handle the development of antifungal drug resistance, the development of new structural modules and new modes of action for antifungals have been highlighted recently. Here, the antifungal activity of quinonemethidal triterpenoids such as celastrol, dihydrocelastrol, iguestein, pristimerin, and tingenone isolated from Tripterygium regelii were identified (MIC 0.269-19.02 ?M). C. glabrata was the most susceptible to quinonemethide among the tested fungi. Furthermore, quinonemethide suppressed cyctochrome c peroxidase expression dramatically, decreasing fungal viability caused by the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide. Thus, cyctochrome c peroxidase downregulation of quinonemethide may be a key mode of action for antifungals. ? The Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry 2016.