extracellular death factor

Programmed cell death in bacteria is dependent on a system of cell-to-cell communication termed quorum sensing. Extracellular death factor (EDF) is a linear pentapeptide that communicating cells produce and release, which upon reaching a sufficient concentration activates the cell death pathway in a subset of cells. It is sensitive to extreme pH, high temperatures, and other stressful conditions. At 2.5 ng/ml, EDF has been shown to facilitate mazEF-mediated cell death, significantly reducing population size in E. coli cultures.

Extracellular Death Factor TFA (EDF TFA) is a linear pentapeptide that is produced and released by communicating cells and activates cell death pathways in cellular subpopulations when sufficient concentrations are reached.EDF TFA is sensitive to extreme pH, high temperatures, and other stressful conditions. At a concentration of 2.5 ng ml, EDF has been shown to promote mazeEF (toxin-antitoxin system within bacteria) mediated cell death, promote the endonuclease activity of MazF toxin, lead to degradation of bacterial mRNA, and significantly reduce population size in E. coli cultures.