Toxic component of a type V toxin-antitoxin (TA) system. Causes membrane damage when induced by MqsR, slowing cell growth and leading to the formation of dormant persister cells; involved with GhoS, its antitoxin, in reducing cell growth during antibacterial stress. Its toxic effects are neutralized by GhoS, which digests ghoT transcripts in a sequence-specific manner. Belongs to the GhoT/OrtT toxin family.