Biological activity of staphylococcin 162: bacteriocin from Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcin 462 is a proteinaceous inhibitor produced by Staphylococcus aureus strain 462. In broth cultures, susceptible S. aureus strain 140 and 19 respond to treatment with the bacteriocin by stopping growth and cell division. Examination of macromolecular synthesis by measuring the incorporation of radioactive precursors revealed that S. aureus 140 stops synthesizing protein immediately. After exposure to staphylococcin 462, the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid is quickly inhibited also, but not as completely. Treatment of S. aureus 140 with the inhibitor causes a rapid drop in cellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate level to about 60% of control levels. Of the 70 strains of gram-positive bacteria tested for susceptibility to staphylococcin 462, 24 (34%), distributed among 7 genera, were susceptible.