Function
A dominant-negative regulator of endogenous whiB2 expression. Low level expression in liquid culture in M.smegmatis leads to elongated and highly branched cells, with multiple nucleoids, similar to the effects seen in deletion experiments for whiB2 in M.smegmatis, as well as loss of acid-fastness. High level expression is lethal. Represses expression of endogenous whiB2. The apo-form binds to the whiB2 promoter found in M.tuberculosis. M.smegmatis cells expressing this protein will not grow on plates. Low level expression in M.smegmatis leads to superinfection exclusion, possibly via modification to the cell wall.