Escherichia coli MazF Leads to the Simultaneous Selective Synthesis of Both “Death Proteins” and “Survival Proteins”
2009
MazF in E. coli: Balancing Cell Death and Survival
publication
10 minutes
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Amitai Shahar, Kolodkin-Gal Ilana, Hananya-Meltabashi Mirit, Sacher Ayelet, Engelberg-Kulka Hanna
Primary Institution: The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School
Hypothesis
MazF induces pathways that lead to both cell death and survival in E. coli.
Conclusion
MazF regulates the synthesis of proteins that cause cell death in most of the population while allowing a small sub-population to survive.
Supporting Evidence
- MazF inhibits the synthesis of most proteins but allows some smaller proteins to be synthesized.
- Deletion of genes for certain proteins showed they are required for cell death.
- MazF's dual role suggests an evolutionary advantage for bacterial populations under stress.
Takeaway
When E. coli faces stress, most of the cells die, but some survive thanks to special proteins that MazF helps make.
Methodology
The study used 2D-gels and mass spectrometry to analyze protein synthesis in E. coli after MazF induction.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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