Open AccessThe microcins
Author(s) -
Baquero F.,
Moreno F.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1984.tb01046.x
Subject(s) - plasmid , bacteria , biology , gene , dna , enterobacteriaceae , escherichia coli , oligopeptide , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , dna replication , enzyme , genetics , biochemistry , peptide
Microcins are antibiotics of low M r , constitutively (non‐lethally) produced by non‐sporulating bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae. Their production depends on plasmids and is not inducible by DNA‐damaging agents. Hitherto, five types of microcins have been identified by cross‐immunity, biochemical and genetic criteria. Microcins have an amino acid or oligopeptide structure and show different mechanisms of action: inhibition of metabolic enzymes (type A) or of DNA replication (type B), or impairment of the cell's energy‐generating system (type D). In some cases (microcin B17), a complex genetic system involving up to seven genes may be required for the synthesis. Finally, microcins may play a role in bacterial interactions in natural microbial ecosystems.