[Molecular basis of bacteriocins production and activity]

Bacteriocins--bacterial proteins or peptides--are envisaged as candidates for the next generation of effective antimicrobials. Analysis of characteristics of natural and genetically engineered bacteriocins with regard to the molecular basis of their production and activity has been performed. Most bacteriocins have narrow spectrum of the inhibitory activity. Some of the broad-spectrum bacteriocins have circular molecular structure (C- and N-terminals of the aminoacid chain are joined by a peptide sequence). Fixed position of molecules' ends possibly accounts for the ability of the proteins to bind with various receptors on the surface of the target cells. Genes encoding bacteriocins and functionally associated proteins can be expressed in heterologous cells including eukaryotic cells. Also there were reports of changing bacteriocin characteristics by the use of site-specific mutagenesis.