| abstract |
The invention relates to the production of heterologous polypeptides in a recombinant host cell. More specifically, it relates to the production and secretion of peptides, such as biologically active peptides, that are modified by one or more lantibiotic-synthesizing enzymes. Provided is a nucleic acid construct encoding a polypeptide comprising 1) a non-lantibiotic export signal that is recognized by a non-lantibiotic export system; 2) a lantibiotic leader peptide that is recognized by at least a lantibiotic dehydratase such as LanB and, C-terminally of said export signal and said leader peptide, 3) a peptide of interest containing one or more serine or threonine residue(s) which can be posttranslationally dehydrated by said dehydratase. Also provided is a method for producing a polypeptide in a host cell, comprising providing a host cell with a nucleic acid construct according to the invention and allowing expression and secretion of the encoded polypeptide by said host cell, wherein said host cell comprises at least a dehydratase capable of modifying said encoded polypeptide and a non-lantibiotic export system capable of secreting said modified polypeptide. |