Enterocin is a potent antibiotic with broad spectrum activity against Gram +ve and Gram -ve bacteria. Although the mechanism of action of enterocin is unknown, it acts synergistically with streptomycin and chloramphenicol. The genetics of enterocin biosynthesis has been extensively investigated. Enterocin is a small molecular weight secondary metabolite and should not be confused with bacterial proteins isolated from Enterococci generically referred to as "enterocins".