NSR from Streptococcus agalactiae confers resistance against nisin and is encoded by a conserved nsr operon

Biol Chem. 2013 Nov;394(11):1543-9. doi: 10.1515/hsz-2013-0167.

Abstract

Nisin is a lantibiotic produced by Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis), which is active against many Gram-positive bacteria. However, in various pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria, the presence of a nisin resistance protein (NSR) confers resistance against nisin. Here, we show that NSR from Streptococcus agalactiae (SaNSR) confers 20-fold resistance when expressed in L. lactis. We also show that SaNSR is encoded by an operon structure comprising of a lipoprotein and an ATP-binding cassette transporter as well as a two-component system that is putatively involved in expression and regulation. This organization of the operon is conserved in several (non)pathogenic strains that do not produce nisin themselves.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology
  • Conserved Sequence / physiology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / physiology
  • Lactococcus lactis / drug effects
  • Lactococcus lactis / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / physiology
  • Operon / physiology*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / chemistry*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / physiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • NisT protein, Lactococcus lactis