ISOLATION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIOCINS PRODUCED BY LACTOBACILLUS-GASSERI JCM-2124

Four antibacterially active peptides (B1 to B4) were purified from the culture broth of L. gasseri JCM 2124. The B2 peptide (gassericin B2) was determined to be 4400 Da by mass spectrometry and partially sequen ced. Gassericin B2 did not show any sequence similarities to other kno wn bacteriocins. The B1 and B3 peptides shared identical sequences wit h two peptides of a two-component bacteriocin from Lactobacillus acido philus. However, synergistic activity upon complementation of B1 and B 3 was not observed. Based on amino acid sequencing and molecular mass, it is suggested that B1 and B4 peptides were derived from B3 (gasseri cin B3).