Lacticin Q, a Lactococcal Bacteriocin, Causes High-Level Membrane Permeability in the Absence of Specific Receptors

To characterize the mode of action of lacticin Q (LnqQ), its membrane-permeabilizing activity was compared with that of nisin A because of the similar antimicrobial features of these compounds. Lipid II, the receptor for nisin A, was not required for LnqQ activity. LnqQ induced high-level membrane permeability in the absence of specific receptors.