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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
Published on: October 14, 2011
Postsegregational killing mediated by the P1 phage "addiction module" phd-doc requires the Escherichia coli
1Department of Molecular Biology, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
Abstract:
"Addiction modules" consist of two genes; the product of the second is long lived and toxic, while the product of the first is short lived and antagonizes the lethal action of the toxin. The extrachromosomal addiction module phd-doc, located on the P1 prophage, is responsible for the postsegregational killing effect (death of plasmid-free cells). The Escherichia coli chromosomal addiction module analogue, mazEF, is responsible for the induction of programmed cell death. Here we show that the postsegregational killing mediated by the P1 phd-doc module depends on the presence of the E. coli mazEF system. In addition, we demonstrate that under conditions of postsegregational killing, mediated by phd-doc, protein synthesis of E. coli is inhibited. Based on our findings, we suggest the existence of a coupling between the phd-doc and mazEF systems.
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