Enterocin is a potent antibiotic with broad spectrum activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Although the mechanism of action of enterocin is unknown, it acts synergistically with streptomycin and chloramphenicol. The genetics of enterocin biosynthesis have 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".