The ng_ζ1 toxin of the gonococcal epsilon/zeta toxin/antitoxin system drains precursors for cell wall synthesis

Abstract

Toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems are important modulators of bacterial physiology. Here, the authors structurally characterize the epsilon/zeta TA system from the Gram-negative pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae and show that the toxin interferes with peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide synthesis by phosphorylating the UDP-activated sugar-precursors.