PemK is a growth inhibitor in E. coli known to bind to the promoter region of the Pem operon, auto-regulating synthesis. This family represents the toxin molecule of a typical bacterial toxin-antitoxin system pairing. The family includes a number of different toxins, such as MazF, Kid, PemK, ChpA, ChpB and ChpAK.

1: chpA and chpB, Escherichia coli chromosomal homologs of the pem locus responsible for stable maintenance of plasmid R100. Masuda Y, Miyakawa K, Nishimura Y, Ohtsubo E; J Bacteriol 1993;175:6850-6856. PMID:8226627

2: Toxin-antitoxin systems in bacteria and archaea. Yamaguchi Y, Park JH, Inouye M; Annu Rev Genet. 2011;45:61-79. PMID:22060041

3: Regulation of growth and death in Escherichia coli by toxin-antitoxin systems. Yamaguchi Y, Inouye M; Nat Rev Microbiol. 2011;9:779-790. PMID:21927020