Abstract
mazEF is a toxin-antitoxin module located on many bacterial chromosomes, including those of pathogens. Here, we report that Escherichia coli mazEF-mediated cell death is a population phenomenon requiring a quorum-sensing molecule that we call the extracellular death factor (EDF). Structural analysis revealed that EDF is a linear pentapeptide, Asn-Asn-Trp-Asn-Asn. Each of the five amino acids of EDF is important for its activity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 652-655 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Science |
| Volume | 318 |
| Issue number | 5850 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 26 Oct 2007 |