title: Targeting of streptococci by zoocin A.
abstract: Zoocin A is a domain-structured peptidoglycan hydrolase produced by Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus 4881. [(14)C]-zoocin A was used to measure the amount of zoocin A bound to the surface of cells and to purified peptidoglycan. The sensitivity of various streptococci to zoocin A correlated with the amount of zoocin A bound (R(2)=0.8609). Peptidoglycan purified from Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus rattus were able to bind zoocin A but remained resistant to hydrolysis. All Streptococcus pyogenes strains were extremely sensitive to zoocin A with minimum inhibition concentrations of 31.5 ng mL(-1) or less, suggesting that zoocin A may have potential for use as an enzybiotic.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akesson
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Robin S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Simmonds
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018502:Streptococcus equi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001430:Bacteriocins; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D010457:Peptidoglycan; C106076:ZooA protein, Streptococcus equi