Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 16, 2026

Production, Crystallization and Structure Determination of C. difficile PPEP-1 via Microseeding and Zinc-SAD
13:34

Production, Crystallization and Structure Determination of C. difficile PPEP-1 via Microseeding and Zinc-SAD

Published on: December 30, 2016

Pep5, a new lantibiotic: structural gene isolation and prepeptide sequence

C Kaletta1, K D Entian, R Kellner

  • 1Institut für Mikrobiologie, Universität Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany.

Archives of Microbiology
|January 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified the lantibiotic Pep5 gene (pepA) on plasmid pED503 using a synthetic oligonucleotide probe. This confirms Pep5 is ribosomally synthesized and reveals details about its prepeptide structure and maturation process.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized peptides with antimicrobial properties.
  • Pep5 is a lantibiotic whose genetic basis and maturation pathway were previously uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize the structural gene (pepA) for the lantibiotic Pep5.
  • To elucidate the ribosomal synthesis and maturation process of Pep5.

Main Methods:

  • Oligonucleotide probe design based on the Pep5 propeptide sequence.
  • Hybridization screening to locate the pepA gene on plasmid pED503.
  • Nucleotide sequencing of the pepA gene.

Main Results:

  • The structural gene pepA was identified on the 18.6 kbp plasmid pED503.
  • Nucleotide sequencing revealed pepA codes for a 60-residue prepeptide, confirming ribosomal synthesis.
  • The prepeptide N-terminus exhibits alpha-helix probability, with a cleavage site preceding the 34-residue propeptide.

Conclusions:

  • Pep5 is confirmed to be ribosomally synthesized.
  • The maturation of Pep5 likely involves enzymatic modification of amino acids and proteolytic cleavage.
  • A model for Pep5 maturation includes dehydration, sulfide bridge formation, translocation, and cleavage.

More Related Videos

Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids11:56

Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids

Published on: May 4, 2018

X-Ray Crystallography to Study the Oligomeric State Transition of the Thermotoga maritima M42 Aminopeptidase TmPep105011:27

X-Ray Crystallography to Study the Oligomeric State Transition of the Thermotoga maritima M42 Aminopeptidase TmPep1050

Published on: May 13, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Peptidoglycan Synthesis01:28

Peptidoglycan Synthesis

Structure of PeptidoglycanPeptidoglycan is a vital structural component of the bacterial cell wall, providing mechanical strength and shape to the cell. It consists of repeating units of two sugars—N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)—linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. These sugar chains are cross-linked by short peptide chains, forming a mesh-like polymer that surrounds the bacterial plasma membrane.Cytoplasmic Phase – Precursor SynthesisPeptidoglycan biosynthesis begins in...
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Production of Antibiotics01:27

Production of Antibiotics

Penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used antibiotics, is produced industrially by the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Large stirred-tank bioreactors ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of liters maintain tightly controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions to support fungal metabolism and maximize antibiotic yield. Penicillin is a secondary metabolite, synthesized primarily during the stationary growth phase, which requires a carefully managed...
Production of Pharmaceuticals01:30

Production of Pharmaceuticals

Industrial insulin production uses genetically engineered E. coli expressing a proinsulin gene controlled by a tryptophan promoter and containing a methionine linker for later cleavage. The cells also carry ampicillin resistance for selective growth. Seed cultures are stored at −80 °C and production begins by thawing a small amount to inoculate starter cultures, which are progressively scaled to a 50,000-L bioreactor. In the bioreactor, E. coli grow in nutrient-rich media under sterile, tightly...
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis01:23

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...