The bacteriocins are small peptides that inhibit the growth of various bacteria. Bacteriocins of lactic acid bacteria may inhibit their target cells by permeabilising the cell membrane [1].

1: Sequence and structural relationships of leucocins A-, B- and C-TA33a from Leuconostoc mesenteroides TA33a. Papathanasopoulos MA, Dykes GA, Revol-Junelles AM, Delfour A, von Holy A, Hastings JW; Microbiology 1998;144:1343-1348. PMID:9611809

2: Three-dimensional structure of leucocin A in trifluoroethanol and dodecylphosphocholine micelles: spatial location of residues critical for biological activity in type IIa bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria. Fregeau Gallagher NL, Sailer M, Niemczura WP, Nakashima TT, Stiles ME, Vederas JC; Biochemistry 1997;36:15062-15072. PMID:9398233