E234 (Nisin) is a small cationic peptide, a natural antimicrobial produced by bacteria belonging to the Lactococcus and Streptococcus species, and interacts with the cytoplasmic membrane and its phospholipid components.

Industrially, it appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Medical

It is a bactericide against Salmonella species, Gram-positive bacteria, Clostridium difficile, widely used by the pharmaceutical industry. It is used to control biofilms (1). However, its instability and low solubility in water limits its use.

Food

It is a chemical compound, an ingredient listed on the European food additives list as E234, serving as a preservative particularly in cheeses and canned foods. It is approved by the Food Drug Administration for use as a food additive (GRAS).

Nisin studies

Molecular Formula      C₁₄₃H₂₃₀N₄₂O₃₇S₇ 

Molecular Weight      3354.07000

CAS  1414-45-5

UNII    EN8XKG133D

EC Number   215-807-5

IUPAC  (2S)-6-amino-2-[2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(1R,4S,7R,11R,14S,17R)-7-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-4-amino-2-[[(3R,9S,12S,15S,21S)-21-[[(2R)-6-amino-2-[[(3R,7R,13S)-3-[[(3R,6S,12S,15R)-15-[[(E)-2-[[(2S,3S)-2-amino-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]but-2-enoyl]amino]-12-[(2S)-butan-2-yl]-9-methylidene-6-(2-methylpropyl)-5,8,11,14-tetraoxo-1-thia-4,7,10,13-tetrazacyclohexadecane-3-carbonyl]amino]-4-methyl-2,9,12-trioxo-5-thia-1,8,11-triazabicyclo[11.3.0]hexadecane-7-carbonyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-15,22-dimethyl-12-(2-methylpropyl)-9-(2-methylsulfanylethyl)-5,8,11,14,17,20-hexaoxo-1-thia-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexazacyclodocosane-3-carbonyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoyl]amino]-4-methylsulfanylbutanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-14-(1H-imidazol-5-ylmethyl)-4,8,20-trimethyl-3,6,12,15,21-pentaoxo-9,19-dithia-2,5,13,16,22-pentazabicyclo[9.9.2]docosane-17-carbonyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]-3-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)propanoyl]amino]-3-methylbutanoyl]amino]prop-2-enoylamino]hexanoic acid

InChl=1S/C143H230N42O37S7/c1-24-69(11)105(148)135(213)162-82(27-4)118(196)174-94-58-225-59-95(175-123(201)89(48-67(7)8)169-115(193)74(16)158-138(216)107(70(12)25-2)180-132(94)210)133(211)184-112-79(21)229-61-96(160-104(190)56-152-134(212)100-38-34-44-185(100)142(112)220)128(206)164-84(36-29-32-42-145)120(198)182-109-76(18)226-60-97(161-103(189)55-151-117(195)85(39-45-223-22)165-122(200)88(47-66(5)6)168-113(191)72(14)156-102(188)54-153-136(109)214)129(207)171-92(51-101(147)187)125(203)166-86(40-46-224-23)119(197)163-83(35-28-31-41-144)121(199)183-110-77(19)228-63-99-130(208)170-90(49-80-52-149-64-154-80)124(202)176-98(62-227-78(20)111(141(219)177-99)181-116(194)75(17)159-140(110)218)131(209)173-93(57-186)127(205)179-108(71(13)26-3)139(217)172-91(50-81-53-150-65-155-81)126(204)178-106(68(9)10)137(215)157-73(15)114(192)167-87(143(221)222)37-30-33-43-146/h27,52-53,64-72,75-79,83-100,105-112,186H,15-16,24-26,28-51,54-63,144-146,148H2,1-14,17-23H3,(H2,147,187)(H,149,154)(H,150,155)(H,151,195)(H,152,212)(H,153,214)(H,156,188)(H,157,215)(H,158,216)(H,159,218)(H,160,190)(H,161,189)(H,162,213)(H,163,197)(H,164,206)(H,165,200)(H,166,203)(H,167,192)(H,168,191)(H,169,193)(H,170,208)(H,171,207)(H,172,217)(H,173,209)(H,174,196)(H,175,201)(H,176,202)(H,177,219)(H,178,204)(H,179,205)(H,180,210)(H,181,194)(H,182,198)(H,183,199)(H,184,211)(H,221,222)/b82-27+/t69-,70-,71-,72-,75-,76?,77?,78?,79?,83-,84+,85-,86-,87-,88-,89-,90-,91-,92-,93-,94-,95-,96-,97-,98-,99-,100-,105-,106-,107-,108-,109+,110-,111-,112-/m0/s1

InChl Key      NVNLLIYOARQCIX-ILAIHEEGSA-N

SMILES  CCC(C)C1C(=O)NC(=C)C(=O)NC(C(=O)NC(CSCC(C(=O)N1)NC(=O)C(=CC)NC(=O)C(C(C)CC)N)C(=O)NC2C(SCC(NC(=O)CNC(=O)C3CCCN3C2=O)C(=O)NC(CCCCN)C(=O)NC4C(SCC(NC(=O)CNC(=O)C(NC(=O)C(NC(=O)C(NC(=O)CNC4=O)C)CC(C)C)CCSC)C(=O)NC(CC(=O)N)C(=O)NC(CCSC)C(=O)NC(CCCCN)C(=O)NC5C(SCC6C(=O)NC(C(=O)NC(CSC(C(C(=O)N6)NC(=O)C(NC5=O)C)C)C(=O)NC(CO)C(=O)NC(C(C)CC)C(=O)NC(CC7=CN=CN7)C(=O)NC(C(C)C)C(=O)NC(=C)C(=O)NC(CCCCN)C(=O)O)CC8=CN=CN8)C)C)C)CC(C)C

MDL number  MFCD00131724

PubChem Substance ID    24897751

RTECS  QU3340000

NACRES  NA.85   

NSC   112903

Synonyms:

Nisin from Lactococcus lactis

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Mahdavi, M., Jalali, M., & Kermanshahi, R. K. (2009). The effect of nisin on biofilm forming foodborne bacteria using microtiter plate method. Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2(2), 113-118.