Class IIa bacteriocins: biosynthesis, structure and activity

In the last decade, a variety of ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial pept ides or bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria have been identified and characterized. As a result of these studies, insight has been gained in to fundamental aspects of biology and biochemistry such as producer self pr otection, membrane-protein interactions, and protein modification and secre tion. Moreover, it has become evident that these peptides may be developed into useful antimicrobial additives. Class IIa bacteriocins can be consider ed as the major subgroup of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria, not onl y because of their large number, but also because of their activities and p otential applications. They have first attracted particular attention as li stericidal compounds and are now believed to be the next in line if more ba cteriocins are to be approved in the future. The present review attempts to provide an insight into general knowledge available for class IIa bacterio cins and discusses common features and recent findings concerning these sub stances. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. Ail rights reserved.