Identification of new inhibitor molecules of the enzyme alternative oxidase with potential antifungal activity against cocoa pathogens

Abstract

The cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) is a crop of great economic importance, because it provides almonds used for the production of worldwide-appreciated chocolate, which demand grows annually. However, diseases of fungal origin are a major cause of loss in cocoa production. In Brazil, the pathogens of greatest importance are Moniliophthora perniciosa and Ceratocystis cacaofunesta, etiological agents of Witch's Broom Disease and Wilt Disease, respectively. From a research program devoted to these subjects, our group found that the mitochondrial enzyme Alternative Oxidase (AOX) from these pathogens plays an important role in their survival and virulence. Thus, AOX is considered as a molecular target of great interest to control of these diseases. After a collaboration with experts in fields of structural biology and biological chemistry, new potential AOX inhibitors were planned and synthesized. This research project aims to evaluate these new molecules for their ability to inhibit the AOX of fungi in different experimental models, generating data that will be useful for planning an effective crop protection methods.