Life-Saving Toxins – LST

Escherichia coli SOS response is an archetype of the DNA damage response regulon, which hugely contributed to the understanding of how different DNA damage repair and tolerance functions are coordinated as a function of the nature, quantity and persistence of DNA damages. Because SOS regulon was first identified as a response to DNA damages, the role of SOS genes that are not directly involved in the DNA repair was largely ignored. By using a multidisciplinary approach based on phylogeny, natural isolates, genetics, molecular biology and animal models, this project aims at investigating how SOS-controlled toxins, which modulate cellular energy production and translation capacity, are functionally and temporally integrated in cellular strategy for dealing with DNA damages. Identifying factors that contribute to bacterial robustness to environmental perturbations may provide new targets for antibacterial drugs and can also be useful for improvement of industrial microorganisms.