Production and purification of halocin H4

Summary

A bacteriocin produced by Halobacterium mediterranei ATCC33500 active against many other halobacteria has been studied. Bacteriocin production is very common in eubacteria, but not in halobacteria which are representatives of a different primary kingdom: the archaebacteria. Halocin H4 production was little affected by the salt concentration or the complexity of the medium, and was not induced by UV treatment. It is a 28-kDa protein consisting of a single polypeptide chain. It is adsorbed by the target cell in which it induces lysis. The presence of bacteriocins in members of the archaebacteria is another point of similarity with eubacteria.

Archaebacteria, bacteriocin, halobacteria, halophilic