The Uab Research Foundation

University of Alabama

Page W Caufield

Fengxia Qi

Jan Novak

Ping Chen

According to the present invention, an isolated and purified DNA sequence which encodes a lantibiotic, mutacin I, is disclosed. The nucleic acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID No: 1 and the amino acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID No: 2.

Lanthionine antibiotic compositions and methods

Mutacin I biosynthesis genes and proteins

Certain bacteria indigenous to humans produce antimicrobial substances called bacteriocins which inhibit other bacteria, including members of their own species. Mutacins are a class of antibiotic substances made by Disclosed is the purification and biochemical characterization of a novel lanthionine-containing mutacin peptide from The purified peptide is pH- and temperature-stable and its amino acid composition indicates the presence of lanthionine and &bgr;-methyllanthionine. Also provided are methods of making and using the purified polypeptide.

Lanthionine antibiotic compositions and method

Certain bacteria indigenous to humans produce antimicrobial substances called bacteriocins which inhibit other bacteria, including members of their own species. Mutacins are a class of antibiotic substances made by Streptococcus mutans. Disclosed is the purification and biochemical characterization of a novel lanthionine-containing mutacin peptide from S. mutans. The purified peptide is pH- and temperature-stable and its amino acid composition indicates the presence of lanthionine and .beta.-methyllanthionine. Also provided are methods of making and using the purified polypeptide.

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Mountain Brook, AL, United States of America

Page W Caufield