Isolation of a variant of subtilosin A with hemolytic activity

J Bacteriol. 2009 Sep;191(18):5690-6. doi: 10.1128/JB.00541-09. Epub 2009 Jul 24.

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis produces an anionic bacteriocin called subtilosin A that possesses antibacterial activity against certain gram-positive bacteria. In this study, we uncovered a hemolytic mutant of B. subtilis that produces an altered form of subtilosin A. The mutant bacteriocin, named subtilosin A1, has a replacement of threonine at position 6 with isoleucine. In addition to the hemolytic activity, subtilosin A1 was found to exhibit enhanced antimicrobial activity against specific bacterial strains. The B. subtilis albB mutant that does not produce a putative immunity peptide was more sensitive to both subtilosin A and subtilosin A1. A spontaneous suppressor mutation of albB that restored resistance to subtilosin A and subtilosin A1 was obtained. The sbr (subtilosin resistance) mutation conferring the resistance is not linked to the sboA-alb locus. The sbr mutation does not increase the resistance of B. subtilis to other cell envelope-targeted antimicrobial agents, indicating that the mutation specifically confers the resistance to subtilosins. The findings suggest possible bioengineering approaches for obtaining anionic bacteriocins with enhanced and/or altered bactericidal activity. Furthermore, future identification of the subtilosin-resistant mutation could provide insights into the mechanism of subtilosin A activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Bacillus subtilis / growth & development
  • Bacillus subtilis / metabolism*
  • Bacteriocins / chemistry
  • Bacteriocins / genetics*
  • Bacteriocins / metabolism
  • Bacteriocins / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Hemolysis / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mutation*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemistry
  • Peptides, Cyclic / genetics*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / metabolism
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology*
  • Rabbits

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacteriocins
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • sboA protein, Bacillus subtilis