[A hypothetical gene pair, ssl2138 and sll11092, constitutes a functional TA system on the chromosome of Synechocystis PCC 6803].

Objective: We characterized the hypothetical gene pair ssl2138 and sll1092 that constitute a vapBC-family toxin-antitoxin (TA) system on the chromosome of Synechocystis PCC 6803.

Methods: An RT-PCR analysis was conducted to confirm the co-transcription of this gene pair, a selection-expression system was constructed to demonstrate the effect of their encoded proteins on E. coli growth.