Expression of different ParE toxins results in conserved phenotypes with distinguishable classes of toxicity

Nine ParE toxins from six different bacteria were cloned and expressed inEscherichia coli for comparison of toxicity and induced filamented morphology. Three distinct classes are identified. The first contains three toxins with minimal toxicity but induced morphological changes, the next contains four toxins with potent toxicity and dramatic morphological changes, and the last class contains two toxins with limited toxicity at longer exposures and no morphologic changes. AbstractToxin –antitoxin (TA) systems are found on both chromosomes and plasmids. These systems are unique in that they can confer both fatal and protective effects on bacterial cells—a quality that could potentially be harnessed given further understanding of these TA mechanisms. The current work focuses on the ParE subfamily, which is found throughout proteobacteria and has a sequence identity on average of approximately 12% (similarity at 30%–80%). Our aim is to evaluate the equivalency of chromosomally derived ParE toxin activity depending on its bacterial species of origin. Nine ParE toxins were analyzed, originating from six different bacterial species. Based on the resulting toxicity, three categories can be established: ParE toxins that do not exert toxicity under the experimental conditions, toxins that exert toxicity within the first four hours, and those that exert toxicity only after 10–12 hr of exposure. All tested ParE toxins produce a cellular morphologic change from rods to filaments,...
Source: MicrobiologyOpen - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research