title: Interplay between plasmid partition and postsegregational killing systems.
abstract: Active partition systems and postsegregational killing (PSK) systems are present together in naturally occurring low-copy-number plasmids. Theory suggests that PSK may act as the ultimate determinant of plasmid retention, whereas the partition system may minimize the growth penalty to the host, resulting in a near-ideal symbiosis when the systems combine. Here, we prove the validity of this principle for a specific case involving the P1par system and the mvp PSK system.
authors.affiliation: Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, NCI-Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201, USA.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brendler
authors.forename: Lucretia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reaves
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D010957:Plasmids