Bacillomycin

Bacillomycin

Bacillomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic produced by certain strains of the bacteria Bacillus subtilis. It is part of the iturin family of lipopeptides, which are known for their strong antifungal properties. Bacillomycin has been found to be particularly effective against the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, a common plant pathogen.

Structure and Synthesis

Bacillomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide, meaning it consists of a peptide ring and a lipid tail. The peptide ring contains seven amino acids, while the lipid tail is a beta-amino fatty acid. The exact structure can vary depending on the strain of Bacillus subtilis producing it.

The synthesis of bacillomycin is carried out by a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS). This is a large, multi-enzyme complex that assembles the lipopeptide one amino acid at a time, in a manner similar to a protein synthesizing ribosome. However, unlike ribosomes, NRPSs do not use mRNA templates.

Mode of Action

Bacillomycin exerts its antifungal effects by disrupting the cell membrane of the fungus. It does this by forming ion channels in the membrane, which leads to a loss of membrane potential and ultimately cell death.

Applications

Due to its strong antifungal properties, bacillomycin has potential applications in agriculture, particularly in the control of fungal plant pathogens. It could also potentially be used in the treatment of fungal infections in humans, although more research is needed in this area.

See Also

• Bacillus subtilis
• Lipopeptide
• Antibiotic
• Fusarium oxysporum

References

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