Activation of contact-dependent antibacterial tRNase toxins by translation elongation factors

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1619273114
• Publication Date: 2017-02-22T01:40:29Z
• Authors: Allison M. Jones; Fernando Garza-Sá...; Jaime So; Christopher S. Hayes; David A. Low
• Keywords: Nuclease; Elongation factor; Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases; Cleave

Significance Contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systems enable cells to bind competing bacteria and deliver toxins that cleave nucleic acids or form membrane pores. Here, we characterize a CDI toxin specifically cleaves transfer RNA (tRNA), thereby blocking protein synthesis inhibiting bacterial growth. Remarkably, two highly conserved essential translation factors, EF-Ts EF-Tu, are critical for this toxic nuclease activity. The binds EF-Tu with high affinity only tRNA in complex the factor. appears increase rate of turnover. activities other distinct also regulated by EF-Ts. We propose regulation activity apparatus may play role intercellular communication.