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  • Title: MazF, an mRNA interferase, mediates programmed cell death during multicellular Myxococcus development.
    Author: Nariya H, Inouye M.
    Journal: Cell; 2008 Jan 11; 132(1):55-66. PubMed ID: 18191220.
    Abstract:
    In prokaryotes, the toxin-antitoxin systems are thought to play important roles in growth regulation under stress conditions. In the E. coli MazE-MazF system, MazF toxin functions as an mRNA interferase cleaving mRNAs at ACA sequences to inhibit protein synthesis leading to cell growth arrest. Myxococcus xanthus is a bacterium displaying multicellular fruiting body development during which approximately 80% of cells undergo obligatory cell lysis. Here, we demonstrate that M. xanthus has a solitary mazF gene that lacks a cotranscribed antitoxin gene. The mazF deletion results in elimination of the obligatory cell death during development causing dramatic reduction in spore formation. Surprisingly, MrpC, a key developmental regulator, functions as a MazF antitoxin and a mazF transcription activator. Transcription of mrpC and mazF is negatively regulated via MrpC phosphorylation by a Ser/Thr kinase cascade. These findings reveal the regulated deployment of a toxin gene for developmental programmed cell death in bacteria.
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