Bacterial Alkaloids Prevent Amoebal Predation

Abstract

Abstract Bacterial defense mechanisms have evolved to protect bacteria against predation by nematodes, predatory bacteria, or amoebae. We identified novel bacterial alkaloids (pyreudiones A–D) that protect the producer, Pseudomonas fluorescens HKI0770, against amoebal predation. Isolation, structure elucidation, total synthesis, and a proposed biosynthetic pathway for these structures are presented. The generation of P. fluorescens gene‐deletion mutants unable to produce pyreudiones rendered the bacterium edible to a variety of soil‐dwelling amoebae.