Part:BBa_K2235004

Colicin E2 immunity protein

This part encodes the immunity protein 2 which binds and inhibits the nicking DNase Colicin E2.

Usage and Biology

Colicin E2 is a non-specific DNase, found in E.coli. It randomly cleaves the chromosome overwhelming the DNA repair machinery and leads to cytotoxicity in the host and its extracellular environment. The expression of Immunity protein 2 (Im2) binds to the neutral site of Colicin and neutralizes its action.

The interplay between these two enzymes can be employed in a suicide system attempting to ensure biocontainment of genetic material. A combination of two or more robust gene switches could regulate the expression of these two and the main priority is to minimize any leaky expression of the toxin.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

References

1. Kleanthous C, Walker D. Immunity proteins: enzyme inhibitors that avoid the active site. Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 2001;26(10):624-631.