Function
Antitoxin component of a type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) system. Upon overexpression neutralizes the effect of overexpressed cognate toxin VapC. Overexpression alone prevents cells from entering a nonculturable dormant state, probably as it binds endogenous VapC (PubMed:24417293). The TA system acts as a post-transcriptional regulator of carbon metabolism; in M.smegmatis 3 TA systems (VapB-VapC, MazE-MazF and Phd-Doc) may be involved in monitoring the nutritional supply and physiological state of the cell, linking catabolic with anabolic reactions. Translation of vapC mRNA requires VapB.