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HicA toxin without antitoxin
| Link to this post | posted 20 Mar, 2022 13:29 | |
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Hi All, We've discussed in the past toxins, especially those that are bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal, can exist in phage genomes without a cognate anti-toxin. I can't remember where we ended up on this topic. The CR2 phage starstruck (stop 4760, gp7 in phamerator) has very strong HHpred data supporting a HicA toxin but there is no sign of an antitoxin. It doesn't make sense to me to call it "toxin in toxin/antitoxin system, HicA-like" if there it isn't a toxin/antitoxin system. Any thoughts on this? Sally |
| Link to this post | posted 20 Mar, 2022 14:31 | |
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Hi Sally, I think I can call a toxin or antitoxin without its partner because the host may carry it. Curious if others agree. debbie |
| Link to this post | posted 21 Mar, 2022 19:09 | |
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Hi all, I'm seeing exactly the same thing in a K4 phage (Ruthiejr): very strong HHPred hit to HicA toxin (99+% probability and 90% coverage) with no sign of an antitoxin. My recollection is the same as Debbie's: we can call either without the partner because it may not need it or the host may carry it. I'm leaving mine as "toxin in toxin/antitoxin system, HicA-like". |