Function
Toxic component of a type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) system. Has RNase activity in vitro. Overexpression leads to growth arrest after 30 minutes; these effects are overcome by concomitant expression of antitoxin SohA (PrlF). Massive overexpression is toxic. Unlike most other characterized TA systems degrades rRNA, and co-folding of the both TA proteins is necessary in vitro for inhibition of the RNase activity. It is not known if it has any sequence-specificity. Acts as a transcription factor. The YhaV/PrlF complex binds the prlF-yhaV operon, probably negatively regulating its expression. mRNA interferases play a role in bacterial persistence to antibiotics (PubMed:21788497).