Colicin E9 is a type of Colicin, a bacteriocin made by E. Coli which acts against other nearby E. Coli to kill them with its DNase activity; it digests the host's genome at specific locations, ultimately leading to the death of the cell.

Synthesis and releaseSynthesis and release

Mechanism of uptakeMechanism of uptake

The primary receptor for colicin E9 is the vitamin B12 receptor, BtuB. It then requires the outer membrane porin OmpF - either the two form the functional receptor, or OmpF is recruited for subsequent translocation. The OmpF association with the BtuB-colicin complex is weak and transient. After the interaction with OmpF, colicin E9 requires the Tol system to pass across the periplasm. OmpF acts synergistically with BtuB to protect bacteria against the action of colicin E9. This could indicate that OmpF is a component of the receptor apparatus. Alternatively the role of OmpF could be more to do with translocation rather than receptor recognition. [1]


Killing ActivitiesKilling Activities

The cytotoxic activity of colE9 is DNase activity. [2] The endonuclease activity of colicin E9 forms channels in planar lipid bilayers. The E9 DNase mediates its own translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane, and the formation of ion channels is essential to this process. <ref> PMID: 15044477 Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name


ReferencesReferences

  1. Law CJ, Penfold CN, Walker DC, Moore GR, James R, Kleanthous C. OmpF enhances the ability of BtuB to protect susceptible Escherichia coli cells from colicin E9 cytotoxicity. FEBS Lett. 2003 Jun 19;545(2-3):127-32. PMID:12804762
  2. Law CJ, Penfold CN, Walker DC, Moore GR, James R, Kleanthous C. OmpF enhances the ability of BtuB to protect susceptible Escherichia coli cells from colicin E9 cytotoxicity. FEBS Lett. 2003 Jun 19;545(2-3):127-32. PMID:12804762

Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)

Gemma McGoldrick