Open AccessKilling Effect and Antitoxic Activity of the Leptospira interrogans Toxin-Antitoxin System in Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Mathieu Picardeau,
Shuangxi Ren,
Isabelle Saint Girons
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.183.21.6494-6497.2001
Subject(s) - antitoxin , biology , leptospira interrogans , microbiology and biotechnology , escherichia coli , toxin , escherichia coli proteins , leptospira , serotype , genetics , gene
We report the first evidence of a chromosome-encoded toxin-antitoxin locus in spirochetes. This locus has been found in the pathogenic spirochete Leptospira interrogans and exhibits homologies with the pem/chp loci. The L. interrogans chp locus consists of two genes: chpK (for "killer protein") and its upstream partner chpI (for "inhibitory protein"). Expression of ChpK in Escherichia coli results in the inhibition of bacterial growth. The coexpression of ChpI neutralizes ChpK toxicity. By Southern blot analysis, chp homologs were found in all representative pathogenic strains of L. interrogans.