Abstract
The ParD-ParE system represents a toxin-antitoxin module of the broad host range plasmid RK2. ParE (103 amino acids) is the toxin, whereas ParD (83 amino acids) constitutes the antidote able to neutralize ParE by forming a stable complex that is also effective in the autorepression of the parDE operon. The ParE toxin inhibits DNA gyrase activity and thereby blocks DNA replication. Several…