Proteomic Investigation of the Antibacterial Mechanism of trans-Cinnamaldehyde against Escherichia coli

Abstract

Trans-Cinnamaldehyde (TC) is a widely used food additive, known for its sterilization, disinfection, and antiseptic properties. However, its antibacterial mechanism is not completely understood. In this study, quantitative proteomics was performed to investigate differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in Escherichia coli in response to TC treatment. Bioinformatics analysis suggested aldehyde toxicity, acid stress, oxidative stress, interference of carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, and protein translation as the bactericidal mechanism. E. coli BW25113ΔyqhD, ΔgldA, ΔbetB, ΔtktB, ΔgadA, ΔgadB, ΔgadC, and Δrmf were used to investigate the functions of DEPs through biochemical methods. The present study revealed that TC exerts its antibacterial effects by inducing the toxicity of its aldehyde group producing acid stress. These findings will contribute to the application of TC in the antibacterial field.

The Natural Antimicrobial trans-Cinnamaldehyde Interferes with UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine Biosynthesis and Cell Wall Homeostasis in Listeria monocytogenes

“…Being an electrophilic and thiol-reactive compound, t -CIN is anticipated to induce an intracellular redox disbalance [ 34 , 35 ]. This is indeed reflected by the induction of oxidative-stress-related genes upon t -CIN exposure, as demonstrated in E. coli [ 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

“…Being an electrophilic and thiol-reactive compound, t -CIN is anticipated to induce an intracellular redox disbalance [ 34 , 35 ]. This is indeed reflected by the induction of oxidative-stress-related genes upon t -CIN exposure, as demonstrated in E. coli [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Maintenance of the bacterial intracellular redox homeostasis depends on various enzymatic antioxidant systems and reducing agents such as glutathione [ 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Thus, L. monocytogenes might respond to an oxidative t -CIN challenge by driving glycolytic substrates to the oxidative PPP to stabilize the intracellular redox state and alleviate the damage caused by t -CIN. Proteomic analysis of E. coli treated with a sublethal concentration of t -CIN showed that the expression of genes involved in PPP is indeed highly upregulated [ 35 ], implying an increased carbon flux to the PPP. While it increases the production of NADPH, this reallocation of carbon flux at the same time decreases the glycolytic production of Fru-6-P, which is the basis of the UDP-GlcNAc biosynthetic reactions ( Figure 6 B).…”

Oxidized chondroitin sulfate eye drops ameliorate the prognosis of fungal keratitis with anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects

“…suggested that aldehydes may disturb metabolic pathways, such as the pentose phosphate pathway, inducing acid stress and ROS production in E. coli cells. 63 According to previous studies, trans -cinnamaldehyde was the only compound of the three antibacterial molecules capable of completely eliminating the biofilm of E. coli , and it was the only compound possessing an aldehyde group. 64 Thus, the antifungal and anti-biofilm activities may be attributed to the aldehyde group of OCS.…”

Crizotinib Shows Antibacterial Activity against Gram-Positive Bacteria by Reducing ATP Production and Targeting the CTP Synthase PyrG

“…The P value of the pathway enrichment was calculated based on the right-hypergeometric test and corrected with Bonferroni’s adjustment. Herein, the P value was set as two-sided hypergeometric tests and adjusted using Bonferroni’s correction, and a P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant ( 36 ).…”