Purification and characterization of a new bacteriocin isolated from a Carnobacterium sp.

A bacteriocin-producing Carnobacterium sp. was isolated from fish. The bacteriocin, termed carnocin UI49, was purified to homogeneity by a four-step purification procedure, including hydrophobic interaction chromatography and reverse-phase chromatography. Carnocin UI49 has a bactericidal mode of action. It was shown to be heat tolerant and stable between pH 2 and 8. At pH above 8, carnocin UI49 was rapidly inactivated. Amino acid analysis revealed a composition of about 35 to 37 amino acids in addition to an unidentified peak which migrates at the position of lanthionine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis suggests a molecular weight of about 4,500 to 5,000. Mass spectrometry gave a molecular weight of 4,635, which is about 1,000 larger than that calculated from the amino acid analysis data. Performic acid oxidation of carnocin UI49, followed by amino acid hydrolysis, revealed the presence of cysteic acid. The sequence of the first seven amino acid residues was determined to be N-Gly-Ser-Glu-Ile-Gln-Pro-Arg. After the seventh amino acid, carnocin UI49 was not available for further Edman degradation. The results suggest that carnocin UI49 belongs to the class of bacteriocins termed lantibiotics.