Identification and Characterization of Microcin S, a New Antibacterial Peptide Produced by Probiotic Escherichia coli G3/10 - Research portal of Justus Liebig University Giessen:

Journal article

Identification and Characterization of Microcin S, a New Antibacterial Peptide Produced by Probiotic Escherichia coli G3/10

Authors list: Zschüttig, A; Zimmermann, K; Blom, J; Goesmann, A; Pöhlmann, C; Gunzer, F

Publication year: 2012

Pages: e33351-

Journal: PLoS ONE

Volume number: 7

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 1932-6203

eISSN: 1932-6203

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033351

Publisher: Public Library of Science

Abstract:
Escherichia coli G3/10 is a component of the probiotic drug Symbioflor 2. In an in vitro assay with human intestinal epithelial cells, E. coli G3/10 is capable of suppressing adherence of enteropathogenic E. coli E2348/69. In this study, we demonstrate that a completely novel class II microcin, produced by probiotic E. coli G3/10, is responsible for this behavior. We named this antibacterial peptide microcin S (MccS). Microcin S is coded on a 50.6 kb megaplasmid of E. coli G3/10, which we have completely sequenced and annotated. The microcin S operon is about 4.7 kb in size and is comprised of four genes. Subcloning of the genes and gene fragments followed by gene expression experiments enabled us to functionally characterize all members of this operon, and to clearly identify the nucleotide sequences encoding the microcin itself (mcsS), its transport apparatus and the gene mcsI conferring self immunity against microcin S. Overexpression of cloned mcsI antagonizes MccS activity, thus protecting indicator strain E. coli E2348/69 in the in vitro adherence assay. Moreover, growth of E. coli transformed with a plasmid containing mcsS under control of an araC PBAD activator-promoter is inhibited upon mcsS induction. Our data provide further mechanistic insight into the probiotic behavior of E. coli G3/10.

Authors/Editors

- Uni.-Prof. Dr. Alexander Goesmann

Citation Styles

Harvard Citation style: Zschüttig, A., Zimmermann, K., Blom, J., Goesmann, A., Pöhlmann, C. and Gunzer, F. (2012) Identification and Characterization of Microcin S, a New Antibacterial Peptide Produced by Probiotic Escherichia coli G3/10, PLoS ONE, 7(3), p. e33351. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033351

APA Citation style: Zschüttig, A., Zimmermann, K., Blom, J., Goesmann, A., Pöhlmann, C., & Gunzer, F. (2012). Identification and Characterization of Microcin S, a New Antibacterial Peptide Produced by Probiotic Escherichia coli G3/10. PLoS ONE. 7(3), e33351. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033351