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TOXIN–ANTITOXIN SYSTEMS

Evolving complex insulation

Prokaryotic genomes are rife with highly similar toxin–antitoxin modules that need to be protected and diversified at the same time. Studies of paralogous modules now reveal how evolution secures insulation between related systems, without compromising toxin inhibition.

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Fig. 1: Structural characterization of TacAT2 and evolutionary model leading to TacAT insulation.

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Correspondence to Ditlev E. Brodersen.

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Liuzzi, A., Brodersen, D.E. Evolving complex insulation. Nat Chem Biol 17, 1216–1217 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00873-9

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