Title Novel toxins from type II toxin-antitoxin systems with acetyltransferase activity
Authors Jurėnas, Dukas ; Garcia-Pino, Abel ; Melderen, Laurence Van
DOI 10.1016/j.plasmid.2017.08.005
Full Text Download
Is Part of Plasmid.. San Diego : Academic Press Inc Elsevier science. 2017, Vol. 93, p. 30-35.. ISSN 0147-619X. eISSN 1095-9890
Keywords [eng] Horizontal gene transfer ; GNAT ; Acetylation ; Toxin-antitoxin ; Deacetylation
Abstract [eng] Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widespread in bacterial and archeal genomes. These modules are very dynamic and participate in bacterial genome evolution through horizontal gene transfer. TA systems are commonly composed of a labile antitoxin and a stable toxin. Toxins appear to preferentially inhibit the protein synthesis process. Toxins use a variety of molecular mechanisms and target nearly every step of translation to achieve their inhibitory function. This review focuses on a recently identified TA family that includes acetyltransferase toxins. The AtaT and TacT toxins are the best-characterized to date in this family. AtaT and TacT both inhibit translation by acetylating the amino acid charged on tRNAs. However, the specificities of these 2 toxins are different as AtaT inhibits translation initiation by acetylation of the initiator tRNA whereas TacT acetylates elongator tRNAs. The molecular mechanisms of these toxins are discussed, as well as the functions and possible evolutionary origins of this diverse toxin family.
Published San Diego : Academic Press Inc Elsevier science
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2017
CC license CC license description