A toxin-deformation dependent inhibition mechanism in the T7SS toxin-antitoxin system of Gram-positive bacteria

Toxin EsaD secreted by some S. aureus strains through the type VII secretion system (T7SS) specifically kills those strains lacking the antitoxin EsaG. Here we report the structures of EsaG, the nuclease domain of EsaD and their complex, which together reveal an inhibition mechanism that relies on significant conformational change of the toxin. To inhibit EsaD, EsaG breaks the nuclease domain of EsaD protein into two independent fragments that, in turn, sandwich EsaG. The originally well-folded ββα-metal finger connecting the two fragments is stretched to become a disordered loop, leading to disruption of the catalytic site of EsaD and loss of nuclease activity. This mechanism is distinct from that of the other Type II toxin-antitoxin systems, which utilize an intrinsically disordered region on the antitoxins to cover the active site of the toxins. This study paves the way for developing therapeutic approaches targeting this antagonism. Antimicrobial toxins are secreted by bacteria to kill rival species. Here the authors report the mechanism of inhibition of EsaD, a toxin secreted by some S. aureus strains to kill competitors that lack the antitoxin EsaG, showing marked mechanistic differences to other Type II toxin-antitoxin systems.