Function
Toxic component of an atypical type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) system. Upon overexpression in the absence of its cognate antitoxin SocA, leads to inhibition of colony formation, cellular filamentation, incomplete DNA replication and induction of the SOS response. Exercises toxicity by binding the beta sliding clamp (dnaN), blocking DNA replication and leading to premature replication fork collapse and incomplete cell division. Unlike most type II TA systems, the SocB toxin is unstable and targeted by its cognate antitoxin SocA for degradation by ClpXP. Not toxic upon expression in E.coli.