Yoshida T, Nagasawa T
Department of Biomolecular Science, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, 501-1193 Gifu, Japan.
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2003 Jul;62(1):21-6. doi: 10.1007/s00253-003-1312-9. Epub 2003 May 1.
epsilon-Poly-L-lysine (epsilon-PL) is a homo-poly-amino acid characterized by the peptide bond between the carboxyl and epsilon-amino groups of L-lysine. epsilon-PL shows a wide range of antimicrobial activity and is stable at high temperatures and under both acidic and alkaline conditions. The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of epsilon-PL on microbial growth is the electrostatic adsorption to the cell surface of microorganisms on the basis of its poly-cationic property. Due to this antimicrobial activity, epsilon-PL is now industrially produced in Japan as a food additive by a fermentation process using Streptomyces albulus. In spite of the practical application of epsilon-PL, the biosynthetic mechanisms of epsilon-PL have not been clarified at all. epsilon-PL producers commonly possess membrane-bound epsilon-PL-degrading aminopeptidase, which might play a role in self-protection.
ε-聚-L-赖氨酸（ε-PL）是一种同聚氨基酸，其特征在于L-赖氨酸的羧基和ε-氨基之间的肽键。ε-PL具有广泛的抗菌活性，并且在高温以及酸性和碱性条件下均稳定。ε-PL对微生物生长的抑制作用机制是基于其聚阳离子特性对微生物细胞表面的静电吸附。由于这种抗菌活性，ε-PL目前在日本通过使用白色链霉菌的发酵工艺作为食品添加剂进行工业化生产。尽管ε-PL有实际应用，但ε-PL的生物合成机制尚未完全阐明。ε-PL生产者通常拥有膜结合的ε-PL降解氨肽酶，其可能在自我保护中发挥作用。
