Aims: Characterization of the biosynthesis (secretion and immunity) of lactococcin Z.
Methods and results: Lactococcin Z is produced by Lactococcus lactisQU 7. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the lactococcin Z gene cluster (c. 5·1 kb) includes four genes encoding putative biosynthetic proteins, LczB (self-immunity protein), LczC (an ABC transporter) and LczD (a transport accessory protein), besides the previously identified LczA. LczB showed 25·5% identity to LciA, the lactococcin A immunity protein, while LczC and LczD had 93·7 and 95·3% identities, respectively, to corresponding proteins of lactococcin A. Heterologous expression of various combinations of the four genes indicated that lczB confers self-immunity against lactococcin Z, and that the four genes are necessary to produce lactococcin Z. However, LczB and LciA showed no cross-immunity to lactococcins A and Z respectively.
Conclusions: The results verified that LczB is the lactococcin Z immunity protein, and LczC is responsible for lactococcin Z secretion in a manner dependent on LczD expression.
Significance and impact of the study: The biosynthesis (secretion and immunity) of a new Lactococcus-specific bacteriocin, lactococcin Z, was characterized. Moreover, the results suggested that lactococcin Z has different immunity and action mechanisms from other Lactococcus-specific bacteriocins.
Keywords: Lactococcus; antimicrobials; bacteriocins; lactic acid bacteria; molecular genetics.
© 2017 The Society for Applied Microbiology.