Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry· 2026Q1
Discovery and Optimization of MoEno1-Targeting Antifungal Compounds for Rice Blast Control
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A novel antifungal compound, II-24, targeting the MoEno1 enzyme, demonstrates significant efficacy against rice blast by disrupting energy metabolism and melanin production.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- MoEno1 enzyme deletion impairs Magnaporthe oryzae growth, melanin production, conidiation, and pathogenicity.
- Isoflavonoid isobavachalcone (IBC) was identified as a MoEno1-binding hit via deep learning and virtual screening.
- Optimized derivative II-24 shows enhanced antifungal activity, stronger MoEno1 binding, and inhibits enolase activity.
- II-24 treatment reduces melanin and acetyl-CoA, perturbing energy metabolism in the fungus.
- II-24 exhibits in planta efficacy, broad-spectrum activity, low phytotoxicity, and low predicted mammalian toxicity.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Developing fungicides with novel modes of action is essential for sustainable rice blast management. Here, we investigated the glycolytic enzyme MoEno1 in Magnaporthe oryzae as a potential antifungal target. Deletion of MoEno1 impaired vegetative growth, melanin production, conidiation, and pathogenicity. Deep-learning-assisted affinity prediction and structure-based virtual screening identified isobavachalcone (IBC) as a MoEno1-binding hit. Structure-guided optimization of IBC yielded 59 derivatives, among which II-24 showed enhanced antifungal activity, stronger MoEno1 binding, and greater inhibition of enolase activity. II-24 treatment was associated with reduced melanin accumulation and acetyl-CoA levels, together with perturbations in energy metabolism. II-24 also showed in planta efficacy, broad-spectrum antifungal activity, low phytotoxicity, low toxicity to zebrafish, predicted low mammalian toxicity, and enhanced activity in combination with tebuconazole. These findings support MoEno1 as a potential antifungal target and II-24 as an early stage lead for rice blast control.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and SystematicsAgricultural and Biological Sciences