title: Epidermin and gallidermin: Staphylococcal lantibiotics.
abstract: The Staphylococcus epidermidis derived epidermin was the first lantibiotic that has been shown to be ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified. Together with gallidermin, produced by Staphylococcus gallinarum, they belong to the large class of cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) that act against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria. Here we describe the genetic organization, biosynthesis and modification, excretion, extracellular activation of the modified pre-peptide by proteolytic processing, self-protection of the producer, gene regulation, structure, and the mode of action of gallidermin and epidermin. We also address mechanisms of bacterial tolerance to these lantibiotics and other CAMPs. Particularly gallidermin has a high potential for therapeutic application, as it is active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) and as it is able to prevent biofilm formation at sublethal concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Microbial Genetics, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: friedrich.goetz@uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Götz
authors.affiliation: Microbial Genetics, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perconti
authors.affiliation: Microbial Genetics, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Popella
authors.affiliation: Microbial Genetics, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.affiliation: Microbial Genetics, Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlag
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001430:Bacteriocins; D010455:Peptides; C057656:gallidermin; C050558:epidermin
keywords: (Z)-2,3-didehydrobutyrine; 2,3-didehydroalanine; 3-methyllanthionine; AviCys; Dha; Dhb; Epidermin; Gallidermin; Lan; Lantibiotics; MeLan; S-[(Z)-2-aminovinyl]-d-cysteine; Staphylococcus; lanthionine