The vapB-vapC Operon of Acidovorax citrulli Functions as a Bona-fide Toxin-Antitoxin Module

摘要: Toxin-antitoxin systems are commonly found on plasmids and chromosomes of bacteria archaea. These appear as biscystronic genes encoding a stable toxin labile antitoxin, which protects the cells from toxin's activity. Under specific, mostly stressful conditions, unstable antitoxin is degraded, becomes active growth arrested. Using genome analysis we identified putative toxin-antitoxin system in plant pathogen Acidovorax citrulli. The homologous to vapB-vapC other bacterial species. PCR phylogenetic analyses suggested that this locus unique group II strains A. biochemical molecular show citrulli VapBC module bona-fide VapC with ribonuclease activity can be counteracted by its cognate VapB antitoxin. We further transcription vapBC induced amino acid starvation, chloramphenicol during infection. Due possible role TA both virulence dormancy human pathogenic bacteria, studies these gaining lot attention. Conversely, characterizing lacking. study presented here validates proteins suggests their involvement stress response host-pathogen interactions.