title: Circular bacteriocins: biosynthesis and mode of action.
abstract: Circular bacteriocins are a group of N-to-C-terminally linked antimicrobial peptides, produced by Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. Circular bacteriocins generally exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, including against common food-borne pathogens, such as Clostridium and Listeria spp. These peptides are further known for their high pH and thermal stability, as well as for resistance to many proteolytic enzymes, properties which make this group of bacteriocins highly promising for potential industrial applications and their biosynthesis of particular interest as a possible model system for the synthesis of highly stable bioactive peptides. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on this group of bacteriocins, with emphasis on the recent progress in understanding circular bacteriocin genetics, biosynthesis, and mode of action; in addition, we highlight the current challenges and future perspectives for the application of these peptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway christina.gabrielsen@ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabrielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Dag A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brede
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingolf F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Nes
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Dzung B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Diep
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins