Table 1.
Classification of bacteriocins and their major features
| Class | Subclass | Example | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| I (lantibiotic) | Ia (linear) | Nisin A | • MW < 5 kDa • Linear peptide • Presence of modified amino acids (lanthionine, methylanthionine) • Heat-stable |
| Ib (globular) | Suicin 3908 | ||
| Ic (multi-components) | Lacticin 3147 | ||
| II (non-lantibiotic) | IIa (pediocin-like) | Pediocin PA-1 | • MW < 10 kDa • Linear peptide • Absence of modified amino acids • Heat-stable |
| IIb (miscellaneous)a | Aureocin A53 | ||
| IIc (multi-components) | Lactococcin G | ||
| III | IIIa (bacteriolytic) | Lysostaphin | • MW > 25 kDa • Linear peptide • Heat-sensitive |
| IIIb (non-lytic) | Helveticin J | ||
| IV | None | Enterocin AS-48 | • MW < 8 kDa • Cyclic peptide |
aThis subclass includes bacteriocins with distinct features.