Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus PriA Helicase by Flavonol Kaempferol

Staphylococcus aureus is an important etiological agent responsible for healthcare-associated infections. In this study, the effect of flavonoids on the inhibition of S. aureus PriA (SaPriA), an essential helicase for DNA replication restart, which is critical for bacterial survival, was investigated. Using vanadate-sensitive colorimetric assay, the concentration of phosphate, from ATP hydrolysis by SaPriA, was decreased to 37 and 69 %, respectively, in the presence of 35 μM kaempferol and myricetin. The effect of quercetin, galangin, dihydromyricetin, and myricitrin was insignificant. From titration curve, IC 50 of kaempferol for SaPriA was determined to be 22 ± 2 μM. Using fluorescence quenching, we identified that kaempferol can bind to SaPriA with K d of 9.1 ± 3.2 μM. To our knowledge, these preliminary results constituted the first study regarding that naturally occurring product such as flavonols kaempferol and myricetin can be potent inhibitors targeting PriA.