Exploring thurincin H as a biotechnologically relevant sactipeptide after fifteen years of research

Thurincin H is an anionic antimicrobial peptide of 31 amino acids with a molecular weight of 3139.51 Da, it belongs to the group of sactipeptides and is produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. Its antimicrobial spectrum is mainly directed against Gram-positive bacteria, and it has been shown to have antimicrobial activity against food pathogens and phytopathogens. In addition, it is attributed with the ability to act as a signaling molecule that promotes growth in plants, especially under stress conditions. Therefore, it is considered a peptide with biotechnological potential. One of the main limitations for the biotechnological use of thurincin H is its low production yield, mainly due to the complexity of its biosynthesis, which also hampers heterologous expression. To address this, several studies have investigated the functions of genes within its biosynthetic cluster. This review aims to summarize the key discoveries and research findings on thurincin H and explore its potential applications in biotechnology.