Analysis of the genetic determinant for production of the pediocin P of Pediococcus pentosaecus Pep 1

Pediococcus pentosaceus Pep1 is a vacuum-packaged Turkish sausage isolate w hich produces a potentially novel bacteriocin of the pediocin (anti-Listeri a) family of peptides designated as pediocin P. Curing experiments and plas mid profile analysis indicated that both bacteriocin immunity and productio n determinants were linked and encoded by 9.0 MDa plasmid, pHD1.0. Attempts to transform purified plasmid pHD1.0 into recipient Escherichia coli JM109 cells by electroporation were successful but none of the E. coli JM109 cel ls were able to express and/or release pediocin P. However. P. pentosaceus PC, a plasmid-cured variant of P. pentosaceus Pep1 was successfully transfo rmed with pHD1.0 by electroporation and Bac(-)Bac(s) P. pentosaceus PC cell s restarted to express and/or released pediocin P again as indicted by the presence of zone of growth inhibition of L. plantarum NCDO 955 around colon ies.