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An Alternative Bactericidal Mechanism of Action for Lantibiotic Peptides That Target Lipid II

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: Lantibiotics are polycyclic peptides containing unusual amino acids, which have binding specificity for bacterial cells, targeting the bacterial cell wall component lipid II to form pores and thereby lyse the cells. Yet several members of these lipid II-targeted lantibiotics are too short to be able to span the lipid bilayer and cannot form pores, but somehow they maintain their antibacterial efficacy. We describe an alternative mechanism by which members of the lantibiotic family kill Gram-positive bacteria by removing lipid II from the cell division site (or septum) and thus block cell wall synthesis.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1129818

Authors: Hester E. Hasper, Naomi E. Kramer, James L. Smith, J. D. Hillman, Cherian Zachariah, Oscar P. Kuipers, Ben de Kruijff, Eefjan Breukink

Institutions: University of Groningen, Utrecht University, Oragenics (United States), Banyan Biomarkers (United States), Mississippi State University

Language: English

Topic: Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities

Subfield: Microbiology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2073097129

FWCI: 19.16

Cites: 20

Cited by: 513

Related to: 10