[Lantibiotics, a class of ribosomally synthesized peptide antibiotics].

Abstract

Lantibiotics are defined as peptide antibiotics containing the unusual amino acids mesolanthionine, 3-methyllanthionine, dehydroalanine, and dehydrobutyrine. They are synthesized by some gram-positive bacteria. Their inhibitory effect on certain other gram-positive bacteria is explained by detergent-like damage of cytoplasmic membranes. Prominent members of the lantibiotics are nisin of Lactococcus lactis, which can be used as a food preservative, subtilin of Bacillus subtilis, which is similar to nisin, and epidermin of Staphylococcus epidermidis, which is considered in the treatment of acne. Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized as prepeptides, which are posttranslationally modified. Genes probably encoding these biosynthetic enzymes and regulatory factors have been identified adjacent to the structural genes of the lantibiotics subtilin, nisin, and epidermin.

• Authors: K D Entian, C Klein
• Journal: Die Naturwissenschaften (Naturwissenschaften) Vol. 80 Issue 10 Pg. 454-60 (Oct 1993) ISSN: 0028-1042 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Lantibiotika, eine Klasse ribosomal synthetisierter Peptid-Antibiotika.
• PMID: 8264800 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Bacterial Proteins
• Bacteriocins
• Peptides
• Peptides, Cyclic
• Nisin
• epidermin
• subtilin

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (chemical synthesis, chemistry)
• Bacillus subtilis (metabolism)
• Bacteria (genetics, metabolism)
• Bacterial Proteins
• Bacteriocins
• Genes, Bacterial
• Lactococcus lactis (metabolism)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Nisin (biosynthesis)
• Peptides
• Peptides, Cyclic (biosynthesis)
• Protein Conformation
• Ribosomes (metabolism)
• Staphylococcus epidermidis (metabolism)