The <i>hokW-sokW</i> Locus Encodes a Type I Toxin–Antitoxin System That Facilitates the Release of Lysogenic Sp5 Phage in Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157
The toxin-antitoxin (TA) genetic modules control various bacterial events, such as plasmid maintenance, persister cell formation, and phage defense. They also exist in mobile genetic elements, including prophages; however, their physiological roles remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/11/796 |
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| author | Kosuke Takada Kotone Hama Takaomi Sasaki Yuichi Otsuka |
| author_facet | Kosuke Takada Kotone Hama Takaomi Sasaki Yuichi Otsuka |
| author_sort | Kosuke Takada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The toxin-antitoxin (TA) genetic modules control various bacterial events, such as plasmid maintenance, persister cell formation, and phage defense. They also exist in mobile genetic elements, including prophages; however, their physiological roles remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that <i>hokW-sokW</i>, a putative TA locus encoded in Sakai prophage 5 (Sp5) in enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157: H7 Sakai strain, functions as a type I TA system. Bacterial growth assays showed that the antitoxic activity of <i>sokW</i> RNA against HokW toxin partially requires an endoribonuclease, RNase III, and an RNA chaperone, Hfq. We also demonstrated that <i>hokW-sokW</i> assists Sp5-mediated lysis of <i>E. coli</i> cells when prophage induction is promoted by the DNA-damaging agent mitomycin C (MMC). We found that MMC treatment diminished <i>sokW</i> RNA and increased both the expression level and inner membrane localization of HokW in a RecA-dependent manner. Remarkably, the number of released Sp5 phages decreased by half in the absence of <i>hokW-sokW</i>. These results suggest that <i>hokW-sokW</i> plays a novel role as a TA system that facilitates the release of Sp5 phage progeny through <i>E. coli</i> lysis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:00:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e17afaa5891843469b9e06e86380412c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:00:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
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| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-e17afaa5891843469b9e06e86380412c2023-11-23T01:49:15ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512021-11-01131179610.3390/toxins13110796The <i>hokW-sokW</i> Locus Encodes a Type I Toxin–Antitoxin System That Facilitates the Release of Lysogenic Sp5 Phage in Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157Kosuke Takada0Kotone Hama1Takaomi Sasaki2Yuichi Otsuka3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-Ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-Ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-Ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-Ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanThe toxin-antitoxin (TA) genetic modules control various bacterial events, such as plasmid maintenance, persister cell formation, and phage defense. They also exist in mobile genetic elements, including prophages; however, their physiological roles remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that <i>hokW-sokW</i>, a putative TA locus encoded in Sakai prophage 5 (Sp5) in enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157: H7 Sakai strain, functions as a type I TA system. Bacterial growth assays showed that the antitoxic activity of <i>sokW</i> RNA against HokW toxin partially requires an endoribonuclease, RNase III, and an RNA chaperone, Hfq. We also demonstrated that <i>hokW-sokW</i> assists Sp5-mediated lysis of <i>E. coli</i> cells when prophage induction is promoted by the DNA-damaging agent mitomycin C (MMC). We found that MMC treatment diminished <i>sokW</i> RNA and increased both the expression level and inner membrane localization of HokW in a RecA-dependent manner. Remarkably, the number of released Sp5 phages decreased by half in the absence of <i>hokW-sokW</i>. These results suggest that <i>hokW-sokW</i> plays a novel role as a TA system that facilitates the release of Sp5 phage progeny through <i>E. coli</i> lysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/11/796bacteriophage<i>Escherichia coli</i>toxin–antitoxin systemprophage induction |
| spellingShingle | Kosuke Takada Kotone Hama Takaomi Sasaki Yuichi Otsuka The <i>hokW-sokW</i> Locus Encodes a Type I Toxin–Antitoxin System That Facilitates the Release of Lysogenic Sp5 Phage in Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 Toxins bacteriophage <i>Escherichia coli</i> toxin–antitoxin system prophage induction |
| title | The <i>hokW-sokW</i> Locus Encodes a Type I Toxin–Antitoxin System That Facilitates the Release of Lysogenic Sp5 Phage in Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 |
| title_full | The <i>hokW-sokW</i> Locus Encodes a Type I Toxin–Antitoxin System That Facilitates the Release of Lysogenic Sp5 Phage in Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 |
| title_fullStr | The <i>hokW-sokW</i> Locus Encodes a Type I Toxin–Antitoxin System That Facilitates the Release of Lysogenic Sp5 Phage in Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The <i>hokW-sokW</i> Locus Encodes a Type I Toxin–Antitoxin System That Facilitates the Release of Lysogenic Sp5 Phage in Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 |
| title_short | The <i>hokW-sokW</i> Locus Encodes a Type I Toxin–Antitoxin System That Facilitates the Release of Lysogenic Sp5 Phage in Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 |
| title_sort | i hokw sokw i locus encodes a type i toxin antitoxin system that facilitates the release of lysogenic sp5 phage in enterohemorrhagic i escherichia coli i o157 |
| topic | bacteriophage <i>Escherichia coli</i> toxin–antitoxin system prophage induction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/11/796 |
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