title: Lantibiotics: how do producers become self-protected?
abstract: Lantibiotics are small peptides produced by Gram-positive bacteria, which are ribosomally synthesized as a prepeptide. Their genes are highly organized in operons containing all the genes required for maturation, transport, immunity and synthesis. The best-characterized lantibiotic is nisin from Lactococcus lactis. Nisin is active against other Gram-positive bacteria via various modes of actions. To prevent activity against its producer strain, an autoimmunity system has developed consisting of different proteins, the ABC transporter NisFEG and a membrane anchored protein NisI. Together, they circumvent the ability of nisin to fulfill its action and cause cell death of L. lactis. Within this review, the mechanism of regulation, biosynthesis and activity of the immunity machinery will be discussed. Furthermore a short description about the application of these immunity proteins in both medical and industrial fields is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Zainab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Alkhatib
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abts
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavaro
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Sander H J
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Smits
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009561:Nisin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009876:Operon; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D001430:Bacteriocins; D009561:Nisin