Classification and mode of action of membrane-active bacteriocins produced by gram-positive bacteria

• Juan C. Oscáriz ^[1] ; Antonio G. Pisabarro ^[1]
  1. [1] Department of Agricultural Production, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
• Localización: International microbiology: official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology, ISSN 1139-6709, Vol. 4, Nº. 1, 2001, págs. 13-19
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides produced by microorganisms belonging to different eubacterial taxonomic branches. Most of them are small cationic membrane-active compounds that form pores in the target cells, disrupting membrane potentials and causing cell death. The production of small cationic peptides with antibacterial activity is a defense strategy found not only in bacteria, but also in plants and animals. Bacteriocins are classifed according to different criteria by different authors; in this review, we will summarize the principal bacteriocin classifications, highlight their main physical and chemical characteristics, and describe the mechanism of some selected bacteriocins that act at the membrane level.