Epidermin is defined as a lantibiotic produced by S. epidermidis, which is a thioether amino acid–containing antimicrobial peptide active against various bacteria, contributing to bacterial interference and colonization on human skin.
Synthesis
Solid-phase peptide synthesis of epidermin:epidermin is synthesized in the ribosome via a precursor protein, followed by enzymatic modifications. It was isolated from the culture filtrate of Staphylococcus epidermidis TU 3298 by adsorption on Amberlite XAD-8. The basic heneicosapeptide amide was chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20 and purified to homogeneity via multiplicative counter-current distributions in one acidic and one neutral system.
