Protein Family Models

This family consists of the Fic (filamentation induced by cAMP) protein and doc (death on curing). The Fic protein is involved in cell division and is suggested to be involved in the synthesis of PAB or folate, indicating that the Fic protein and cAMP are involved in a regulatory mechanism of cell division via folate metabolism [1]. This family contains a central conserved motif HPFXXGNG in most members. The exact molecular function of these proteins is uncertain. P1 lysogens of Escherichia coli carry the prophage as a stable low copy number plasmid. The frequency with which viable cells cured of prophage are produced is about 10(-5) per cell per generation [1]. A significant part of this remarkable stability can be attributed to a plasmid-encoded mechanism that causes death of cells that have lost P1 [2]. In other words, the lysogenic cells appear to be addicted to the presence of the prophage. The plasmid withdrawal response depends on a gene named doc (death on curing) that is represented by this family [2]. Doc induces a reversible growth arrest of E. coli cells by targetting the protein synthesis machinery. Doc hosts the C-terminal domain of its antitoxin partner Phd (prevents host death) through fold complementation, a domain that is intrinsically disordered in solution but that folds into an alpha-helix on binding to Doc [3].This domain forms complexes with Phd antitoxins containing Pfam:PF02604. [1]. 1656497. Functional analysis of the fic gene involved in regulation of. cell division.. Komano T, Utsumi R, Kawamukai M;. Res Microbiol 1991;142:269-277.. [2]. 8411153. Plasmid addiction genes of bacteriophage P1:. TRUNCATED at 1650 bytes (from Pfam)

Date:

2024-08-14

The characterized member of this family is the death-on-curing (DOC) protein of phage P1. It is part of a two protein operon with prevents-host-death (phd) that forms an addiction module. DOC lacks homology to analogous addiction module post-segregational killing proteins involved in plasmid maintenance. These modules work as a combination of a long lived poison (e.g. this protein) and a more abundant but shorter lived antidote. Members of this family have a well-conserved central motif HxFx[ND][AG]NKR. A similar region, with K replaced by G, is found in the huntingtin interacting protein (HYPE) family.

Date:

2021-08-05