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Journal of Bacteriology, August 1999, p. 4848-4852, Vol. 181, No. 16
Department of Microbiology, Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of
Groningen, 9751NN Haren, The Netherlands,1 and
Department of Biochemistry,
Received 19 March 1999/Accepted 7 June 1999
Plantaricin EF and JK are both two-peptide bacteriocins produced by
Lactobacillus plantarum C11. The mechanism of plantaricin EF and JK action was studied on L. plantarum 965 cells.
Both plantaricins form pores in the membranes of target cells and
dissipate the transmembrane electrical potential (
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Complementary and Overlapping Selectivity of the
Two-Peptide Bacteriocins Plantaricin EF and JK

) and pH
gradient (
pH). The plantaricin EF pores efficiently conduct small
monovalent cations, but conductivity for anions is low or absent.
Plantaricin JK pores show high conductivity for specific anions but low
conductivity for cations. These data indicate that L. plantarum C11 produces bacteriocins with complementary ion
selectivity, thereby ensuring efficient killing of target bacteria.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of
Microbiology, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands. Phone: (31) (50) 3632164. Fax: (31) (50) 3632154. E-mail:
A.J.M.Driessen{at}BIOL.RUG.NL.
Journal of Bacteriology, August 1999, p. 4848-4852, Vol. 181, No. 16
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
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