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parD toxin–antitoxin system of plasmid R1 – basic contributions, biotechnological applications and relationships with closely‐related toxin–antitoxin systems
Author(s) -
DiagoNavarro Elizabeth,
HernandezArriaga Ana M.,
LópezVillarejo Juan,
MuñozGómez Ana J.,
Kamphuis Monique B.,
Boelens Rolf,
Lemonnier Marc,
DíazOrejas Ramón
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2010.07722.x
Subject(s) - antitoxin , plasmid , biology , toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , escherichia coli , genetics , dna , gene
Toxin–antitoxin systems, as found in bacterial plasmids and their host chromosomes, play a role in the maintenance of genetic information, as well as in the response to stress. We describe the basic biology of the parD/kiskid toxin–antitoxin system of Escherichia coli plasmid R1, with an emphasis on regulation, toxin activity, potential applications in biotechnology and its relationships with related toxin–antitoxin systems. Special reference is given to the ccd toxin–antitoxin system of plasmid F because its toxin shares structural homology with the toxin of the parD system. Inter‐relations with related toxin–antitoxin systems present in the E. coli chromosome, such as the parD homologues chpA/mazEF and chpB and the relBE system, are also reviewed. The combined structural and functional information that is now available on all these systems, as well as the ongoing controversy regarding the role of the chromosomal toxin–antitoxin loci , have made this review especially timely.