Protein H encoded by plasmid Clo DF13 involved in lysis of the bacterial host

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We studied the expression of gene H, located between 9.3% and 11% on the Clo DF13 genome, as well as the functions of the gene product. We found that treatment of bacterial cells with mitomycin-C results in the induced synthesis of three Clo DF13 specified proteins namely cloacin DF13, immunity protein and protein H. Evidence was obtained that the genes encoding these proteins form one, mitomycin-C induceable, operon; the promoter at 32% in front of the cloacin gene is essential for the induced expression. Furthermore we could demonstrate that protein H is involved in the lethal effect of mitomycin-C treatment of bacteriocinogenic cells. The data in this paper show that a high concentration of protein H in cells, due either to an induced expression of gene H (mitomycin-C induction) or to a gene dosage effect (Clo DF13 cop1 Ts copy control mutant), results in the lysis of bacterial cells. The implication of these data are discussed.