Abstract
Poly-ε-l-lysine (ε-poly-l-lysine, ε-PL) consisting of 25–35 l-lysine residues in isopeptide linkages is one of only two amino-acid homopolymers known in nature. ε-PL was found as a Dragendorff-positive substance produced by Streptomyces albulus isolated from soil more than 30 years ago. Because of its strong antimicrobial activity and safety, ε-PL has been industrially produced and widely used as a natural food preservative. To comply with growing demand for ε-PL in food applications, numerous studies aimed at improving the productivity of ε-PL have been carried out. In addition, there has been great interest in medical and other applications of ε-PL and its derivatives. In this review, the microbial production of ε-PL, its antimicrobial activity and safety, and various applications are comprehensively described.
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Yamanaka, K., Hamano, Y. (2010). Biotechnological Production of Poly-Epsilon-l-Lysine for Food and Medical Applications. In: Hamano, Y. (eds) Amino-Acid Homopolymers Occurring in Nature. Microbiology Monographs, vol 15. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12453-2_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12453-2_4
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