Princeton University

Shawn R Campagna

Bonnie L Bassler

Martin F Semmelhack

Michiko E Taga

Frederick M Hughson

Stephen T Miller

Karina B Xavier

Michael J Federle

This invention provides a practical synthesis route for 4,5-dihydroxypentane-2,3-dione (DPD), an unstable small molecule which is proposed to be the source of universal signaling agents for quorum sensing in bacteria. The synthesis route includes new intermediates and allows preparation of isotopically-labeled DPD and ent-DPD. The method provides sufficient quantities of DPD for study of spontaneous binding of borate to DPD, the signal for the marine bacteria

Expeditious synthesis of DPD

This invention relates to crystals comprising apo-LsrB and holo-LsrB. The structure of holo-LsrB identifies a tetrahydroxytetrahydrofuran derived from 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (DPD) as the active autoinducer-2 (AI-2) molecule in. The X-ray crystallographic data can be used in a drug discovery method. Additionally the invention provides AI-2 analogs based on this discovery as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing those analogs.

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Growing community of inventors

Hamilton, NJ, United States of America

Shawn R Campagna