Abstract
Bacteriocins are potent antimicrobial peptides that are ribosomally produced and exported by bacteria, presumably to aid elimination of competing microorganisms. Many circular and linear leaderless bacteriocins have a recuring three dimensional structural motif known as a saposin-like fold. Although these bacteriocin sizes and sequences are often quite different, and their mechanisms of action vary, this conserved motif of multiple helices appears critical for activity and may enable peptide-lipid and peptide-receptor interactions in target bacterial cell membranes. Comparisons between electrostatic surfaces and hydrophobic surface maps of different bacteriocins are discussed emphasizing similarities and differences in the context of proposed modes of action.
Highlights
Antibiotics are of great importance in modern healthcare systems
Each bacteriocin has one face that has a hydrophobic patch sandwiched between two hydrophilic patches and one predominantly hydrophobic face
This will help address the global need for the development of new antibiotics that do not readily develop resistance and are active against a wide variety of pathogens
Summary
Structural features of many circular and leaderless bacteriocins are similar to those in saposins and saposin-like peptides†‡. Bacteriocins are potent antimicrobial peptides that are ribosomally produced and exported by bacteria, presumably to aid elimination of competing microorganisms. Many circular and linear leaderless bacteriocins have a recuring three dimensional structural motif known as a saposin-like fold. These bacteriocin sizes and sequences are often quite different, and their mechanisms of action vary, this conserved motif of multiple helices appears critical for activity and may enable peptide–lipid and peptide–receptor interactions in target bacterial cell membranes. Comparisons between electrostatic surfaces and hydrophobic surface maps of different bacteriocins are discussed emphasizing similarities and differences in the context of proposed modes of action
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