RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Escherichia coli Induces DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Eukaryotic Cells JF Science JO Science FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP 848 OP 851 DO 10.1126/science.1127059 VO 313 IS 5788 A1 Nougayrède, Jean-Philippe A1 Homburg, Stefan A1 Taieb, Frédéric A1 Boury, Michèle A1 Brzuszkiewicz, Elzbieta A1 Gottschalk, Gerhard A1 Buchrieser, Carmen A1 Hacker, Jörg A1 Dobrindt, Ulrich A1 Oswald, Eric YR 2006 UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/313/5788/848.abstract AB Transient infection of eukaryotic cells with commensal and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli of phylogenetic group B2 blocks mitosis and induces megalocytosis. This trait is linked to a widely spread genomic island that encodes giant modular nonribosomal peptide and polyketide synthases. Contact with E. coli expressing this gene cluster causes DNA double-strand breaks and activation of the DNA damage checkpoint pathway, leading to cell cycle arrest and eventually to cell death. Discovery of hybrid peptide-polyketide genotoxins in E. coli will change our view on pathogenesis and commensalism and open new biotechnological applications.