Homologous VapC Toxins Inhibit Translation and Cell Growth by Sequence-Specific Cleavage of tRNAfMet.

ABSTRACT: Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems play a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of bacterial dormancy. They are composed of a protein toxin and its cognate protein antitoxin. They function to regulate growth under conditions of stress, such as starvation or antibiotic treatment. As cellular proteases degrade the antitoxin, which normally binds and neutralizes the toxin, this frees the toxin to act on its cellular targets and arrest bacterial growth. TA systems are of particular concern in regard to pathogenic organisms, such as nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), as dormancy may lead to chronic infections and failure of antibiotic treatment. Many targets of VapC toxins have not been identified, to date, and this knowledge is crucial to understanding how toxins control

SUBMITTER: Walling LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5763043 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature