Type II toxin-antitoxin systems in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Abstract: Bacterial toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems are genetic elements, which are encoded by plasmid as well as chromosomal loci. They mediate plasmid and genomic island maintenance through post-segregational killing mechanisms but may also have milder effects, acting as mobile stress response systems that help certain cells of a population in persisting adverse growth conditions. Very few cyanobacterial TA system have been characterized thus far. In this work, we focus on the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803, a widely used model organism. We expand the number of putative Type II TA systems from 36 to 69 plus seven stand-alone components. Forty-seven TA pairs are located on the chromosome and 22 are plasmid-located. Different types of toxins are associated with various antitoxins in a mix and match principle. According to protein domains and experimental data, 81% of all toxins in Synechocystis 6803 likely exhibit RNase activity, suggesting extensive potential for toxicity-related RNA degradation and toxin-mediated transcriptome remodeling. Of particular interest is the Ssr8013–Slr8014 system encoded on plasmid pSYSG, which is part of a larger defense island or the pSYSX system Slr6056–Slr6057, which is linked to a bacterial ubiquitin-like system. Consequently, Synechocystis 6803 is one of the most prolific sources of new information about these genetic elements

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Toxins. 8, 7 (2016), 228, DOI 10.3390/toxins8070228, issn: 2072-6651 ; IN COPYRIGHT http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0 rs

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Biowissenschaften, Biologie
• Keyword: Toxin ; Cyanobakterien ; Hydrogenasen ; RNS ; Antitoxin

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2016
• Creator: Kopfmann, Stefan ; Rösch, Stefanie K. ; Hess, Wolfgang
• Contributor: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Institut für Biologie III ; Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Fakultät für Biologie ; Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Further information

• DOI: 10.3390/toxins8070228
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-132146
• Rights: Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 25.03.2025, 1:51 PM CET