title: Purification, amino acid sequence and characterization of the class IIa bacteriocin weissellin A, produced by Weissella paramesenteroides DX.
abstract: Weissella paramesenteroides DX has been shown to produce a 4450-Da class IIa bacteriocin, weissellin A, composed of 43 amino acids with the sequence KNYGNGVYCNKHKCSVDWATFSANIANNSVAMAGLTGGNAGN. The bacteriocin shares 68% similarity with leucocin C from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Computational analyses predict that the bacteriocin is a hydrophobic molecule with a beta-sheet type conformation. Weissellin A exhibited various levels of activity against all gram-positive bacteria tested, but was not active against Salmonella enterica Enteritidis. The antimicrobial activity was not associated with target-cell lysis. The bacteriocin retained activity after exposure to 121°C for 60 min or to -20°C for 6months, and to pH 2.0-10.0. It was not sensitive to trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, pepsin and papain, but was inactivated by proteinase K. At a dissolved oxygen concentration of 50%, weissellin A was produced with growth-associated kinetics. The properties of weissellin A make this bacteriocin a potentially suitable agent for food and feed preservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Technology of Food of Animal Origin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54006, Greece. mp2000@vet.auth.gr
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papagianni
authors.forename: Emmanuel M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Papamichael
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D019286:Endopeptidase K; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D058836:Weissella / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins; D019286:Endopeptidase K