Nisin Q

Aims: To characterize the genetic and biochemical features of nisin Q. Methods and results: The nisin Q gene cluster was sequenced, and 11 putative orfs having 82% homology with the nisin A biosynthesis gene cluster were identified. Nisin Q production was confirmed from the nisQ-introduced nisin Z producer. In the reporter assay, nisin Q exhibited an induction level that was threefold lower than that of nisin A. Nisin Q demonstrated an antimicrobial spectrum similar to those of the other nisins. Under oxidizing conditions, nisin Q retained a higher level of activity than nisin A. This higher oxidative tolerance could be attributed to the presence of only one methionine residue in nisin Q, in contrast to other nisins that contain two. Conclusions: The 11 orfs of the nisin producers were identical with regard to their functions. The antimicrobial spectra of the three natural nisins were similar. Nisin Q demonstrated higher oxidative tolerance than nisin A. Significance and impact of the study: Genetic and biochemical features of nisin Q are similar to those of other variants. Moreover, owing to its higher oxidative tolerance, nisin Q is a potential alternative for nisin A.

The third member of the nisin variant, nisin Q, produced by Lactococcus lactis 61-14, is a ribosomally-synthesized antimicrobial peptide, the so-called lantibiotic containing post-translationally modified amino acids such as lanthionine and dehydroalanine. Here, we determined the complete covalent structure of nisin Q, consisting of 34 amino acids, by two-dimensional (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Sequential assignment of nisin Q containing the unusual amino acids was performed by total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY) and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY). The observed long range nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) in nisin Q indicated assignment of all five sets of lanthionines that intramolecularly bridge residues 3-7, 8-11, 13-19, 23-26, and 25-28. Consequently, the covalent structure of nisin Q was determined to hold the same thioether linkage formation as the other two nisins, but to harbor the four amino acid substitutions, in contrast with nisin A.

Nisin is the prototypical example of the lantibiotic family of antimicrobial peptides and has been employed as a food preservative for over half a century. It has also attracted attention due to its potency against a number of multidrug-resistant clinical pathogens. Nisin A is the originally isolated form of Nisin and a further five natural variants have been described which differ by up to 10 amino acids (of 34 in total in Nisin A). Nisins A, Z, F and Q are produced by Lactococcus lactis, while Nisins U and U2 are produced by Streptococcus sp. In this study we bioengineered the nisA gene of a Nisin A producer to generate genes encoding Nisins Z, F, Q, U and U2. We determined that while active Nisin Z, F and Q can be produced against this genetic background, active forms of Nisin U and U2 are not generated. Minimum inhibitory concentration studies with Nisin A, Z, F and Q variants against a series of different clinically significant pathogens establish differences in specific activities against selected targets. Nisin F was most impressive, being the most active, or one of the most active, against the MRSA strain ST 525, EC 676, EC 725, VISA 22900, VISA 22781, hVISA 35197, Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4 and L. lactis HP. Nisin Z was most active against ST 299, hVISA 32683 and, together with Nisin F, HP but had contrastingly poor activity against ST 525, EC 676 and 8325-4. Nisin F, Q and A exhibited similar potency against VISA 22900. This was the only target against which Nisin Q and Nisin A were among the most active variants.