Toward the control of Leptosphaeria maculans: design, syntheses, biological activity, and metabolism of potential detoxification inhibitors of the crucifer phytoalexin brassinin

Brassinin (1), a crucial plant defense produced by crucifers, is detoxified by the phytopathogenic fungus Leptosphaeria maculans (Phoma lingam) to indole-3-carboxaldehyde using a putative brassinin oxidase. Potential inhibitors of brassinin detoxification were designed by replacement of its dithiocarbamate group (toxophore) with carbamate, dithiocarbonate, urea, thiourea, sulfamide, sulfonamide, dithiocarbazate, amide, and ester functional groups. In addition, the indolyl moiety was substituted for naphthalenyl and phenyl. The syntheses and chemical characterization of these potential detoxification inhibitors, along with their antifungal and cytotoxic activity, as well as screening using cultures of L. maculans are reported. Overall, three types of interaction were observed in cultures of L. maculans co-incubated with the potential inhibitors and brassinin: (1) a decrease on the rate of brassinin detoxification due to the strong inhibitory activity of the compound on fungal growth, (2) a decrease on the rate of brassinin detoxification due to the inhibitory activity of the compound on the putative brassinin oxidase, and (3) a low to no detectable effect on the rate of brassinin detoxification. A noticeable decrease in the rate of brassinin detoxification was observed in the presence of N'-methylbrassinin, methyl N-methyl-N-(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl) dithiocarbamate, tryptophol dithiocarbonate, and methyl 3-phenyldithiocarbazate. Tryptophol dithiocarbonate appeared to be the best inhibitor among the designed compounds, representing the first inhibitor of brassinin detoxification and potentially the first selective protecting agent of oilseed crucifers against L. maculans infestation.