Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Applying an Inducible Expression System to Study Interference of Bacterial Virulence Factors with Intracellular Signaling
Published on: June 25, 2015
sRNAs in bacterial type I and type III toxin-antitoxin systems
1AG Bakteriengenetik, Lehrstuhl für Genetik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Philosophenweg 12, D-07743 Jena, Germany Sabine.Brantl@rz.uni-jena.de.
Abstract:
Toxin-antitoxin (TA) loci consist of two genes: a stable toxin whose overexpression kills the cell or causes growth stasis and an unstable antitoxin that neutralizes the toxin action. Currently, five TA systems are known. Here, we review type I and type III systems in which the antitoxins are regulatory RNAs. Type I antitoxins act by a base-pairing mechanism on toxin mRNAs. By contrast, type III antitoxins are RNA pseudoknots that bind their cognate toxins directly in an RNA-protein interaction. Whereas for a number of plasmid-encoded systems detailed information on structural requirements, kinetics of interaction with their targets and regulatory mechanisms employed by the antitoxin RNAs is available, the investigation of chromosomal systems is still in its infancy. Here, we summarize our current knowledge on that topic. Furthermore, we compare factors and conditions that induce antitoxins or toxins and different mechanisms of toxin action. Finally, we discuss biological roles for chromosome-encoded TA systems.
More Related Videos
05:06Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System
Published on: January 5, 2024
10:41Detection of Toxin Translocation into the Host Cytosol by Surface Plasmon Resonance
Published on: January 3, 2012
Related Concept Videos
Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems
Types of RNA
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
Types of RNA
RNA Performs Diverse...
Bacterial Toxins
CRISPR and crRNAs
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...