Description | The hok/gef family of Gram-negative bacterial proteins are toxic to cells when overexpressed, killing the cells from within by interfering with a vital function in the cell membrane [ ]. Some family members (flm) increase the stability of unstable RNA [], some (pnd) induce the degradation of stable RNA at higher than optimum growth temperatures [], while others affect the release of cellular magnesium by membrane alterations []. The proteins are short (50-70 residues), consisting of an N-terminal hydrophobic (possibly membrane spanning) domain, and a C-terminal periplasmic region, which contains the toxic domain. The C-terminal region contains a conserved cysteine residue that mediates homo-dimerisation in the gef protein, although dimerisation is not necessary for the toxic effect []. | Name | Hok/gef cell toxic protein |
Short Name | Hok/gef_toxin | Type | Family |