Pediocin N5p from Pediococcus pentosaceus: adsorption on bacterial strains

Pediocin N5p is a bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus pentosaceus isolated from wine. It is adsorbed on both sensitive and resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in non specific (non lethal) sites and higher values, up to 30% are observed in sensitive strains suggesting the presence of particular (lethal) receptors. Cell death without lysis is produced by the action of pediocin on sensitive strains. The cations Mg2+ and Mn2+ increase the pediocin binding by 80 and 100%, respectively. Treatment of sensitive cells with proteolytic enzymes and 1% SDS increases the subsequent binding of bacteriocin by 100 and 25%, respectively. As a lipid moiety of pediocin N5p is critical to its activity, probably a hydrophobic interaction with the peptidic receptor, stabilized by Mn2+ or Mg2+ might be established. Pediocin N5p adsorption is not affected by ethanol and SO2, two factors involved in vinification.