Programmed cell death in Escherichia coli: some antibiotics can trigger mazEF lethality.

摘要: The discovery of toxin-antitoxin gene pairs (also called addiction modules) on extrachromosomal elements Escherichia coli, and particularly the homologous modules bacterial chromosome, suggest that a potential for programmed cell death may be inherent in cultures. We have reported E. coli mazEF system, regulatable module located chromosome. MazF is stable toxin MazE labile antitoxin. Here we show mediated by can triggered several antibiotics (rifampicin, chloramphenicol, spectinomycin) are general inhibitors transcription and/or translation. These inhibit continuous expression antitoxin MazE, as result, causes death. Our results implications possible mode(s) action this group antibiotics.