Colicins are toxic exoproteins produced by bacteria of colicinogenic strains of Escherichia coli and some related species of Enterobacteriaceae, during the growth of their cultures. They inhibit sensitive bacteria of the same family. About 35% E. coli strains appearing in human intestinal tract are colicinogenic. Synthesis of colicins is coded by genes located on Col plasmids. Until now more than 34 types of colicins have been described, 21 of them in greater detail, viz. colicins A, B, D, E1-E9, Ia, Ib, JS, K, M, N, U, 5, 10. In general, their interaction with sensitive bacteria includes three steps: (1) binding of the colicin molecule to a specific receptor in the bacterial outer membrane; (2) its translocation through the cell envelope; and (3) its lethal interaction with the specific molecular target in the cell. The classification of colicins is based on differences in the molecular events of these three steps.

• MeSH
• Escherichia coli chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Escherichia coli Infections microbiology   MeSH
• Colicins classification   metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Colicins MeSH

As a further model of mammalian tissue cells, Chinese hamster fibroblasts of the stable line V79 were used to check the cytotoxic effects of colicins. The efficiency of plating of cells treated with colicins E1-E5 and with colicin K was followed. The V79 cells were, in general, poorly sensitive to colicins; only colicins E1, E3 and E5 lowered the number of colony-forming cells to some degree. Again, a different action of colicins E1 and K (which is the same in bacteria) was found in eukaryotic cells.

• MeSH
• Cell Line MeSH
• Fibroblasts MeSH
• Colicins pharmacology   MeSH
• Cricetinae MeSH
• Cell Survival * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Cricetinae MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Colicins MeSH