Enhancing Protein and Plasmid Expression by T/A Pair Deletion in Clean Genome E. coli
The Role of Toxin-Antitoxin Systems in E. coli
Toxin-antitoxin (T/A) stress-response genes are induced by metabolic trauma encountered during protein and plasmid overproduction. Although their specific influence on protein and plasmid production has not been extensively studied, 37 T/A pairs have been identified in E. coli.
In general, stress responses result in inactivation or loss of the antitoxin, and the toxins then act upon a variety of cellular targets (e.g. gyrase, mRNAs, ribosomes, cell membranes) to slow or stop growth or even to kill the cell outright. They can influence plasmid maintenance systems, act as nutritional stress managers (1), triggers for biofilm formation (2), and inducers of persistent non-growth states (3).
In the Clean Genome strains, eighteen T/A pairs have already been deleted. However, 19 additional pairs of T/A genes have been deleted in specific strains that are available for testing if activation of these pairs are suspected to adversely influence the expression of specific proteins or plasmid DNAs in your production campaign. Want to learn more? Use the form below to get in touch with our team and request access to these testing strains.
- Gerdes K, Christensen SK, Lobner-Olesen A. Prokaryotic toxin-antitoxin stress response loci. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2005;3(5):371-82.
- Wang X, Wood TK. Toxin-Antitoxin Systems Influence Biofilm and Persister Cell Formation and the General Stress Response. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2011;77(16):5577-83.
- Lewis K. Persister Cells. Annual Review of Microbiology. 2010;64(1):357-72.
Learn More
In addition to the strains in our online catalog, we have an extensive library of Clean Genome® E. coli strains with various additional genetic modifications. Complete the form below to connect with our team to learn more about the Clean Genome toxin-antitoxin strains, including pricing and licensing options.
Learn More
In addition to the strains in our online catalog, we have an extensive library of Clean Genome® E. coli strains with various additional genetic modifications. Complete the form below to connect with our team to learn more about the Clean Genome toxin-antitoxin strains, including pricing and licensing options.