Induction of Escherichia coli chromosomal mazEF by stressful conditions causes an irreversible loss of viability - PubMed (original) (raw)

Induction of Escherichia coli chromosomal mazEF by stressful conditions causes an irreversible loss of viability

Ilana Kolodkin-Gal et al. J Bacteriol. 2006 May.

Erratum in

Abstract

mazEF is a stress-induced toxin-antitoxin module located on the chromosomes of many bacteria. Here we induced Escherichia coli chromosomal mazEF by various stressful conditions. We found an irreversible loss of viability, which is the basic characteristic of cell death. These results further support our previous conclusion that E. coli mazEF mediation of cell death is not a passive process, but an active and genetically "programmed" death response.

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Figures

FIG. 1.

FIG. 1.

A point of no return after the induction of the E. coli chromosomal-mazEF_-mediated cell death by inhibition of translation (group 1). Bacterial cultures of E. coli strains MC4100 relA+/pQE-Δ_his_-mazE, MC4100 relA1 (the strain was used for the induction of stressful conditions with serine hydroxamate), and MC4100 relA+ Δ_mazEF were grown to mid-logarithmic phase. (A) Rifampin (20 μg/ml) was added, the cells were incubated at 37°C for 10 min, and then rifampin was removed. (B) Serine hydroxamate (0.1 mg/ml) was added, the cells were incubated at 37°C for 1 h and then serine hydroxamate was removed. (C) Cells were incubated for 10 min in 50°C without shaking. For the rest of the experiment, see the text. The results describe the average of three independent experiments that were carried out in triplicate. Error bars indicate standard deviations. WT, wild type.

FIG. 2.

FIG. 2.

A point of no return after the induction of the E. coli chromosomal-mazEF_-mediated cell death by inhibition of translation (group 2). Bacterial cultures of E. coli strains MC4100 relA+/pQE-Δ_his_-mazE and MC4100 relA+ Δ_mazEF were grown as described in the legend of Fig. 1. Agents causing the inhibition of translation were added and then removed after incubation without shaking at 37°C for 10 min. (A) Spectinomycin (0.2 mg/ml). (B) Chloramphenicol (0.04 mg/ml). For the rest of the experiment, see the text. The results describe the average of three independent experiments that were carried out in triplicate. Error bars indicate standard deviations. WT, wild type.

FIG. 3.

FIG. 3.

A point of no return after the induction of the E. coli chromosomal-mazEF_-mediated cell death by DNA damage (group 3). Bacterial cultures of E. coli strains MC4100_relA+/pQE-Δ_his_-mazE and MC410_0 relA_+ Δ_mazEF_ were grown as described in the legend of Fig. 1. (A) Nalidixic acid (1 mg/ml) with incubation for 10 min. (B). Trimethoprim (2 μg/ml) with incubation for 1 h. (C) Mitomycin C (0.25 μg/ml) with incubation for 10 min. For the rest of the experiment, see the text. The results describe the average of three independent experiments that were carried out in triplicate. Error bars indicate standard deviations. WT, wild type.

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