Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-3-6
pubmed:abstractText
Unlike numerous pore-forming amphiphilic peptide antibiotics, the lantibiotic nisin is active in nanomolar concentrations, which results from its ability to use the lipid-bound cell wall precursor lipid II as a docking molecule for subsequent pore formation. Here we use genetically engineered nisin variants to identify the structural requirements for the interaction of the peptide with lipid II. Mutations affecting the conformation of the N-terminal part of nisin comprising rings A through C, e.g. [S3T]nisin, led to reduced binding and increased the peptide concentration necessary for pore formation. The binding constant for the S3T mutant was 0.043 x 10(7) m(-1) compared with 2 x 10(7) m(-1) for the wild-type peptide, and the minimum concentration for pore formation increased from the 1 nm to the 50 nm range. In contrast, peptides mutated in the flexible hinge region, e.g. [DeltaN20/DeltaM21]nisin, were completely inactive in the pore formation assay, but were reduced to some extent in their in vivo activity. We found the remaining in vivo activity to result from the unaltered capacity of the mutated peptide to bind to lipid II and thus to inhibit its incorporation into the peptidoglycan network. Therefore, through interaction with the membrane-bound cell wall precursor lipid II, nisin inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis and forms highly specific pores. The combination of two killing mechanisms in one molecule potentiates antibiotic activity and results in nanomolar MIC values, a strategy that may well be worth considering for the construction of novel antibiotics.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0021-9258
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
19
pubmed:volume
276
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1772-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Specific binding of nisin to the peptidoglycan precursor lipid II combines pore formation and inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis for potent antibiotic activity.
pubmed:affiliation
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie der Universität Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't