Colicin K
From Proteopedia
Colicin K is a type of Colicin, a bacteriocin made by E. coli which acts against other nearby E. coli to kill them by forming a pore in the membrane, leading to depolarisation of the membrane which kills the cell.
Synthesis and release
The colicin K operon is encoded on a plasmid in the E. coli cell. The operon encodes the colicin itself, its Colicin Immunity Protein and a protein for release of the colicin into the surrounding area. The immunity protein acts by inserting into the membrane of the colicin-producing cell, and prevents the colicin from forming a pore in the membrane.
