Discovery of a Widely Distributed Antibiotic Biosynthesis Gene Cluster

Abstract

Bacteriocins represent a large family of ribosomally‐produced antibiotics. Here, we describe the discovery of a widely‐conserved prokaryotic bacteriocin biosynthetic operon, encoding a toxin precursor and all of the necessary modifying enzymes for toxin maturation. We present evidence that the cytolytic Streptococcus pyogenes virulence factor, streptolysin S, and analogous toxins from Clostridium botulium and Pyrococcus furiosus are converted to highly active cytolysins by the actions of the modifying enzymes. These enzymes also accept alternate substrates, boosting hopes to exploit this system to create novel antibiotics.