Biosynthesis of bacitracin on a protein thiotemplate.

The dodecapeptide bacitracin A is the major constitutent of a family of antibacterial peptides produced by Bacillus licheniformis. The non-ribosomal biosynthesis of bacitracin has been studied in cell-free extracts. Bacitracin synthetase has been fractionated on Sephadex G 200 column into two fractions; both fractions were required for bacitracin biosynthesis. On the other hand, on a Sepharose affinity chromatography column, using L-leucine as ligand, three fractions were obtained; all three were required for bacitracin biosynthesis. During bacitracin synthesis, the enzyme components contain a number of thioester bound peptides. The nature of the peptides suggested that the synthesis proceeds towards the C-terminal end of the molecule. It is assumed that by sequential addition of thioester-bound amino acids, bacitracin A could be synthesized on the surface of the enzyme containing phosphopantetheine.