Function
Toxic component of a type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) system. Probably functions as an endoribonuclease. Responsible for the stable maintenance of the plasmid during cell division by postsegregational killing of plasmid-less daughter cells. Neutralized by coexpression with cognate antitoxin PemI. Both PemI and PemK proteins bind to the promoter region of the pem operon to autoregulate their synthesis.