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. 1996 Aug;62(8):2701–2709. doi: 10.1128/aem.62.8.2701-2709.1996

Bactericidal Mode of Action of Plantaricin C

B Gonzalez, E Glaasker, E Kunji, A Driessen, J E Suarez, W N Konings
PMCID: PMC1388909  PMID: 16535371

Abstract

Plantaricin C is a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum LL441 that kills sensitive cells by acting on the cytoplasmic membrane. In contrast to its lack of impact on immune cells, plantaricin C dissipates the proton motive force and inhibits amino acid transport in sensitive cells. In proteoliposomes, plantaricin C dissipates the transmembrane electrical potential, and in liposomes, it elicits efflux of entrapped carboxy-fluorescein. It is concluded that plantaricin C is a pore-forming bacteriocin that functions in a voltage-independent manner and does not require a specific protein receptor in the target membrane.

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Selected References

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