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Review
. 2023 May 16;3(3):100096.
doi: 10.1016/j.engmic.2023.100096. eCollection 2023 Sep.

The lasso structure, biosynthesis, bioactivities and potential applications of Microcin J25: A novel antibacterial agent with unique mechanisms

Qingchun Ji  1 , Bixia Zhou  1 , Tong Shen  2 , Tianyue Jiang  3 , Cheng Cheng  3 , Bingfang He  1   3
Affiliations
Review

The lasso structure, biosynthesis, bioactivities and potential applications of Microcin J25: A novel antibacterial agent with unique mechanisms

Qingchun Ji et al. Eng Microbiol. .

Abstract

The overuse and misuse of traditional antimicrobial drugs have led to their weakened effectiveness and the emergence of pathogenic bacterial resistance. Consequently, there has been growing interest in alternative options such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the pharmaceutical industry. Microcin J25 (MccJ25) has gained significant attention for its potent inhibitory effect on a diverse range of pathogens. Its unique rotaxane structure provides exceptional stability against extreme thermal, pH, and protease degradation, including chymotrypsin, trypsin, and pepsin. Given its remarkable stability and diverse bioactivity, we aim to provide an overview of the physicochemical properties, the mechanism underlying its antimicrobial activity, and the critical functional residues of MccJ25. Additionally, we have summarized the latest strategies for the heterologous expression of MccJ25, and its potential medical use and other applications.

Keywords: AMP; Antimicrobial mechanism; Heterologous expression; Microcin J25.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Image, graphical abstract
Graphical abstract
Fig 1
Fig. 1
Lasso peptide MccJ25 biosynthetic gene cluster and the mature pathway from precursor peptide McjA to MccJ25, which is catalyzed by McjB and McjC, and transported by McjD.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Mechanisms of RNA Polymerase Inhibition: MccJ25 inhibits transcription by binding within the RNAP secondary channel and obstructing it. (A) Crystal structure of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme (Blue and Purple; PDB ID:1IW7)and (B) Crystal structure of microcin J25 (Red; PDB ID:1Q71).
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Mechanism by which MccJ25 disrupts the membrane respiratory chain ,.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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