The effect of the lantibiotic warnerin on the ionic permeability of artificial membranes has been studied. Membranes were composed of different lipid fractions, including lipids isolated from warnerin-sensitive cells of Staphylococcus epidermidis. It was shown that warnerin selectively interacts with artificial membranes of different lipid composition, which leads, in some cases, to the formation of ionic channels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe bactericidal effect of the polycationic peptide warnerin, produced by Staphylococcus warneri IEGM KL-1, was found to depend on the energy state of susceptible Staphylococcus epidermidis cells. The pre-treatment of these cells with compounds that diminish the proton-motive force of plasma membranes enhanced cell tolerance to warnerin. The components deltapsi and deltapH of the membrane proton potential influenced the antibacterial activity of warnerin in different ways.
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