Lit

Description

Lit was first identified in 1989 (N/A) , stands for late inhibitors of T4 and was found to inhibit phage T4 in Escherichia coli (K12). The Lit gene is found in the e14 cryptic prophage (N/A) . Lit is also partially active against other T-even phages (N/A) .

Molecular mechanisms

The Lit system detects cleaves EF-Tu translation factor (N/A) at a late stage of phage maturation, when the major capsid protein binds to EF-Tu and triggers its cleavage by Lit (N/A) . As a result, the translation is inhibited, which ultimately leads to cell death. Lit is part of the abortive infection category of defense systems.

Example of genomic structure

The Lit is composed of 1 protein: Lit.

Here is an example found in the RefSeq database:

The Lit system in Klebsiella pneumoniae (GCF_002180175.1, NZ_CP021686) is composed of 1 protein: Lit (WP_223861284.1)

Distribution of the system among prokaryotes

Structure

Experimental validation

      
graph LR;
    Yu_1994[Yu and  Snyder, 1994] --> Origin_0
    Origin_0[Escherichia coli defective prophage e14 
WP_001257372.1] --> Expressed_0[Escherichia coli]
    Expressed_0[Escherichia coli] ----> T4
    subgraph Title1[Reference]
        Yu_1994
end
    subgraph Title2[System origin]
        Origin_0
end
    subgraph Title3[Expression species]
        Expressed_0
end
    subgraph Title4[Protects against]
        T4
end
    style Title1 fill:none,stroke:none,stroke-width:none
    style Title2 fill:none,stroke:none,stroke-width:none
    style Title3 fill:none,stroke:none,stroke-width:none
    style Title4 fill:none,stroke:none,stroke-width:none