title: Characterization of a novel plasmid-borne thiopeptide gene cluster in Staphylococcus epidermidis strain 115.
abstract: Thiopeptides are small (12- to 17-amino-acid), heavily modified peptides of bacterial origin. This antibiotic family, with more than 100 known members, is characterized by the presence of sulfur-containing heterocyclic rings and dehydrated residues within a macrocyclic peptide structure. Thiopeptides, including micrococcin P1, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and even protozoa. Micrococcin P1 is known to target the ribosome; however, like those of other thiopeptides, its biosynthesis and mechanisms of self-immunity are poorly characterized. We have discovered an isolate of Staphylococcus epidermidis harboring the genes for thiopeptide production and self-protection on a 24-kb plasmid. Here we report the characterization of this plasmid, identify the antimicrobial peptide that it encodes, and provide evidence of a target replacement-mediated mechanism of self-immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bennallack
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Heder
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA richard_robison@byu.edu joelg@byu.edu.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Robison
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA richard_robison@byu.edu joelg@byu.edu.
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Griffitts
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology; D005810:Multigene Family; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins; D001688:Biological Products; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic