Improved Growth of Escherichia coli in Aminoglycoside Antibiotics by the <i>zor-orz</i> Toxin-Antitoxin System

Abstract

Bacterial species can harbor gene pairs known as type I toxin-antitoxin systems, in which one gene encodes a small protein that is toxic to the bacteria producing it and a second gene that encodes a small RNA antitoxin to prevent toxicity. While artificial overproduction of type I toxin proteins can lead to cell growth inhibition and cell lysis, the endogenous translation of type I toxins appears to be tightly regulated.