title: New developments in non-post translationally modified microcins.
abstract: Microcins are a family of low molecular weight antibiotic peptides produced by Enterobacteriaceae strains and active against related bacteria. According to some features we propose to classify these antibiotic substances into two distinct groups. The class I microcins contain Mcc B17, C7, J25 and D93 that are small molecules (molecular mass inferior to 5 kDa), largely post-translationally modified and with specific intracellular targets. The class II microcins, MccV, E492, H47, L and 24, share several common properties with class IIa Gram-positive bacteriocins: molecular mass ranging from 7 to 10 kDa, absence of modified amino acids, double-glycine type leader peptides, secretion mediated by an ABC transporter and antibacterial activity due to interaction with bacterial membrane. This review discusses common features of the class II microcins and provides new insights into these peptides.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génie Protéique et Cellulaire, Université de La Rochelle, Pôle Sciences, 17042 La Rochelle, cedex 1, France.
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lanneluc
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cottenceau
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sable
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007109:Immunity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D001430:Bacteriocins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; C020411:microcin