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Mechanism of postsegregational killing by the hok gene product of the parB system of plasmid R1 and its homology with the relF gene product of the E. coli relB operon.

1986; Springer Nature; Volume: 5; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/j.1460-2075.1986.tb04459.x

1460-2075

Kenn Gerdes, F.W. Bech, Sigrid Tue Jørgensen, Anders Løbner‐Olesen, P. B. Rasmussen, Tove Atlung, Lars Boe, Olle Karlström, Søren Molin, K. von Meyenburg,

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Research Article1 August 1986free access Mechanism of postsegregational killing by the hok gene product of the parB system of plasmid R1 and its homology with the relF gene product of the E. coli relB operon. K. Gerdes K. Gerdes Search for more papers by this author F.W. Bech F.W. Bech Search for more papers by this author S.T. Jørgensen S.T. Jørgensen Search for more papers by this author A. Løbner-Olesen A. Løbner-Olesen Search for more papers by this author P.B. Rasmussen P.B. Rasmussen Search for more papers by this author T. Atlung T. Atlung Search for more papers by this author L. Boe L. Boe Search for more papers by this author O. Karlstrom O. Karlstrom Search for more papers by this author S. Molin S. Molin Search for more papers by this author K. von Meyenburg K. von Meyenburg Search for more papers by this author K. Gerdes K. Gerdes Search for more papers by this author F.W. Bech F.W. Bech Search for more papers by this author S.T. Jørgensen S.T. Jørgensen Search for more papers by this author A. Løbner-Olesen A. Løbner-Olesen Search for more papers by this author P.B. Rasmussen P.B. Rasmussen Search for more papers by this author T. Atlung T. Atlung Search for more papers by this author L. Boe L. Boe Search for more papers by this author O. Karlstrom O. Karlstrom Search for more papers by this author S. Molin S. Molin Search for more papers by this author K. von Meyenburg K. von Meyenburg Search for more papers by this author Author Information K. Gerdes, F.W. Bech, S.T. Jørgensen, A. Løbner-Olesen, P.B. Rasmussen, T. Atlung, L. Boe, O. Karlstrom, S. Molin and K. Meyenburg The EMBO Journal (1986)5:2023-2029https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1460-2075.1986.tb04459.x PDFDownload PDF of article text and main figures. ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyWechatReddit Figures & Info The parB region of plasmid R1 encodes two genes, hok and sok, which are required for the plasmid-stabilizing activity exerted by parB. The hok gene encodes a potent cell-killing factor, and it is regulated by the sok gene product such that cells losing a parB-carrying plasmid during cell division are rapidly killed. Coinciding with death of the host cell, a characteristic change in morphology is observed. Here we show that the killing factor encoded by the hok gene is a membrane-associated polypeptide of 52 amino acids. A gene located in the Escherichia coli relB operon, designated relF, is shown to be homologous to the hok gene. The relF gene codes for a polypeptide of 51 amino acids, which is 40% homologous to the hok gene product. Induced overexpression of the hok and relF gene products results in the same phenomena: loss of cell membrane potential, arrest of respiration, death of the host cell and change in cell morphology. The parB region and the relB genes were cloned into unstably inherited oriC minichromosomes. Whereas the parB region also conferred a high degree of genetic stability to an oriC minichromosome, the relB operon (with relF) did not; therefore the latter does not appear to ‘stabilize’ its replicon (the chromosome). The function of the relF gene is not known. Previous ArticleNext Article Volume 5Issue 81 August 1986In this issue RelatedDetailsLoading ...