Megacins

Literature References: Antibiotic proteins produced by strains of Bacillus megaterium, which are highly specific in their antibacterial activity against strains of homologous species. Isoln of megacin A from B. megaterium: Ivanovics, Alföldi, Nature 174, 465 (1954); Holland, Biochem. J. 78, 641 (1961). Destroys the cytoplasmic membrane of sensitive bacteria: Nagy, Acta Microbiol. Acad. Sci. Hung. 6, 337 (1959). Isoln of megacin C from B. megaterium: Holland, Roberts, J. Gen. Microbiol. 35, 271 (1964). Has a mode of action quite different from megacin A and is more reminiscent of colicins, q.v. Review: Holland in Antibiotics vol. 1, D. Gottlieb, P. Shaw, Eds. (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1967) pp 688-695.