Transcriptional cross-activation between toxin-antitoxin systems of Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are formed by potent regulatory or suicide factors (toxins) and their short-lived inhibitors (antitoxins). Antitoxins are DNA-binding proteins and auto-repress transcription of TA operons. Transcription of multiple TA operons is activated in temporarily non-growing persister cells that can resist killing by antibiotics. Consequently, the antitoxin levels of persisters must have been dropped and toxins are released of inhibition.

Results

Here, we describe transcriptional cross-activation between different TA systems of Escherichia coli. We find that the chromosomal relBEF operon is activated in response to production of the toxins MazF, MqsR, HicA, and HipA. Expression of the RelE toxin in turn induces transcription of several

SUBMITTER: Kasari V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3598666 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature