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Type II Toxin-Antitoxin Loci: The Epsilon/zeta Family

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Prokaryotic Toxin-Antitoxins

Abstract

Epsilon/zeta is a widespread TA gene family, members of which stabilise resistance plasmids in Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Additionally, chromosomally encoded epsilon/zeta loci are virulence determinants in highly pathogenic Streptococcus pneumoniae strains. Here, we provide an overview of the unique mechanism of cell-poisoning by the toxin component, toxin inhibition by antitoxin, regulation of TA protein expression and possible biological functions of this system apart from plasmid maintenance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstr. 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Hannes Mutschler & Anton Meinhart

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  1. Hannes Mutschler
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  2. Anton Meinhart
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Correspondence to Anton Meinhart .

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  1. Inst. for Cell and Molecular Bioscience, Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, United Kingdom

    Kenn Gerdes

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Mutschler, H., Meinhart, A. (2013). Type II Toxin-Antitoxin Loci: The Epsilon/zeta Family. In: Gerdes, K. (eds) Prokaryotic Toxin-Antitoxins. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33253-1_12

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