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PubMed2006

Competitive inhibition of natural antisense Sok-RNA interactions activates Hok-mediated cell killing in Escherichia coli.

Short regulatory RNAs are widespread in bacteria, and many function through antisense recognition of mRNA. Among the best studied antisense transcripts are RNA antitoxins that repress toxin mRNA translation. The hok/sok locus of plasmid R1 from Escherichia coli is an established model for RNA antitoxin action. Base-pairing between hok mRNA and Sok-antisense-RNA increases plasmid maintenance through post-segregational-killing of plasmid-free progeny cells. To test the model and the idea that sequestration of Sok-RNA activity could provide a novel antimicrobial strategy, we designed anti Sok peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers that, according to the model, would act as competitive inhibitors of hok mRNA::Sok-RNA interactions. In hok/sok-carrying cells, anti Sok PNAs were more bactericidal than rifampicin. Also, anti Sok PNAs induced ghost cell morphology and an accumulation of mature hok mRNA, consistent with cell killing through synthesis of Hok protein. The results support the sense/antisense model for hok mRNA repression by Sok-RNA and demonstrate that antisense agents can be used to out-compete RNA::RNA interactions in bacteria. Finally, BLAST analyses of approximately 200 prokaryotic genomes revealed that many enteric bacteria have multiple hok/sok homologous and analogous RNA-regulated toxin-antitoxin loci. Therefore, it is possible to activate suicide in bacteria by targeting antitoxins.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

Combined estimation of tetanus and diphtheria antitoxin in human sera by the in vitro Toxin-Binding Inhibition (ToBI) test.

The use of the principle of inhibition of toxin binding to an antitoxin coated immunoassay plate as described in a previous paper for tetanus antitoxin titration, was adapted for the estimation of diphtheria antitoxin in human sera. With a few modifications, a Toxin-Binding Inhibition (ToBI) test was developed which could be used for a combined estimation of both tetanus and diphtheria antitoxin levels. The application of streptavidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex when using small serum samples (less than 50 microliters) is discussed. Antitoxin titres (both diphtheria and tetanus) of 0.002 IU ml-1 were detectable by the ToBI test, this being far below the level considered to be protective in man. Sera from 140 adults with different vaccination histories were titrated for both tetanus and diphtheria antitoxin. Good correlations were found between the estimates obtained by the ToBI test and those obtained by the toxin-neutralization (TN) test in mice (tetanus antitoxin) and those obtained in the in vitro neutralization test in VERO cells (diphtheria antitoxin). It is concluded that the ToBI test is a simple and reliable alternative to the functional models currently in use for the estimation of diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin levels. In addition, the ToBI test eliminates the need for laboratory-animal or cell-culture facilities and can be performed with small quantities of serum as required in field trials.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Plasmid RK2 toxin protein ParE: purification and interaction with the ParD antitoxin protein.

The parDE operon, located within the 3.2-kb stabilization region of plasmid RK2, encodes antitoxin (ParD) and toxin (ParE) proteins that stabilize the maintenance of this broad-host-range plasmid via a postsegregational killing mechanism. A ParE protein derivative, designated ParE', was purified by construction of a fusion protein, GST-ParE, followed by glutathione-agarose binding and cleavage of the fusion protein. ParE' has three additional amino acids on the N terminus and a methionine residue in place of the native leucine residue. The results of glutathione-agarose affinity binding and glutaraldehyde cross-linking indicate that ParE' exists as a dimer in solution and that it binds to the dimeric form of ParD to form a tetrameric complex. The formation of this complex is presumably responsible for the ability of ParD to neutralize ParE toxin activity. Previous studies demonstrated that the parDE operon is autoregulated as a result of the binding of the ParD protein to the parDE promoter. ParE' also binds to the parDE promoter but only in the presence of the autoregulatory ParD protein. ParE', in the presence or absence of the ParD protein, does not bind to any other part of the 3.2-kb stabilization region. The binding of the ParE' protein to ParD did not alter the DNase I footprint pattern obtained as a result of ParD binding to the parDE promoter. The role of ParE in binding along with ParD to the promoter, if any, remains unclear.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment of acute experimental diphtheria toxemia by immunohemosorption].

The antitoxic antidiphtheric immunosorbent DATs was tested in experiments on mice and guinea-pigs using the model of acute diphtheric toxemia. In extracorporeal connecting with the circulation system of the animals the sorbent effectively bound and eliminated from the circulation molecules of diphtheric toxin and antitoxin, reduced significantly their levels in the blood after hemoperfusion. The effectiveness of the immunosorbent DATs was confirmed when it saved the ginea-pigs after injection of lethal toxin doses.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

Mechanism of action of cholera toxin: studies on the lag period.

The lag period for activation of adenylate cyclase by choleragen was shorter in mouse neuroblastoma N18 cells than in rat glial C6 cells. N18 cells have 500-fold more toxin receptors than C6 cells. Treatment of C6 cells with ganglioside GM1 increased the number of toxin receptors and decreased the lag phase. Choleragen concentration also effected the lag phase, which increased as the toxin concentration and the amount of toxin bound decreased. The concentration, however, required for half-maximal activation of adenylate cyclase depended on the exposure time; at 1.5, 24, and 48 hr, the values were 200, 1.1, and 0.35 PM, respectively. Under the latter conditions, each cell was exposed to 84 molecules to toxin. The length of the lag period was temperature-dependent. When exposed to choleragen at 37, 24, and 20 degrees C, C6 cells began to accumulate cyclic AMP after 50, 90, and 180 min, respectively. In GM1-treated cells, the corresponding times were 35, 60, and 120 min. Cells treated with toxin at 15 degrees C for up to 22 hr did not accumulate cAMP, whereas above this temperature they did. Antiserum to choleragen, when added prior to choleragen, completely blocked the activation of adenylate cyclase. When added after the toxin, the antitoxin lost its inhibitory capability in a time and temperature-dependent manner. Cells, however, could be preincubated with toxin at 15 degrees C, and the antitoxin was completely effective when added before the cells were warmed up. Finally, cells exposed to choleragen for less than 10 min at 37 degrees C accumulated cyclic AMP when shifted to 15 degrees C. Under optimum conditions at 37 degrees C, the minimum lag period for adenylate cyclase activation in these cells was 10 min. These findings suggest that the lag period for choleragen action represents a temperature-dependent transmembrane event, during which the toxin (or its active component) gains access to adenylate cyclase.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of the neurotoxin produced by isolates associated with avian botulism.

Several varieties of birds are affected by type C botulism. We conducted neutralization tests of culture supernatants of isolates from cases of avian botulism. Whereas the toxin produced by isolates derived from mammalian botulism was neutralized only with type C antitoxin, the toxins of all isolates related to avian botulism were neutralized with both type C and D antitoxins. An analysis of nucleotide sequences with several strains revealed that the neurotoxin gene in the isolates from avian botulism comprises two thirds of the type C neurotoxin gene and one third of the type D neurotoxin gene. This indicates that the neurotoxin of avian isolates is a mosaic of type C and D neurotoxins. We prepared three sets of primers to differentiate the gene for the mosaic form from the conserved genes of type C and D neurotoxins. The results of polymerase chain reaction with these primers indicated that all avian botulism-related isolates and specimens possess the gene for the mosaic form of the neurotoxin. The toxins purified from avian and mammalian isolates exhibited the same degree of lethality in mice, but the former showed greater toxicity to chickens than the latter. These results indicate that the mosaic neurotoxin is probably a pathogenic agent causing some forms of avian botulism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Study of the receptor for black widow spider neurotoxin. I. Characteristics of membrane-bound and solubilized receptors from the bovine brain].

Iodine-125 labelled alpha-latrotoxin from the venom of Central Asia black widow spider Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus binds specifically to the bovine brain membrane receptor producing a stable slowly dissociating complex with Kd = 1.6 x 10(-10) M and Bmax = 0.5 pmol/mg protein. Treatment of the complex with alkaline high-salt buffer induces reversible dissociation of the bound toxin. The antitoxin polyclonal antibody does not increase the dissociation rate of the bound toxin. Wheat germ lectin as well as concanavalin A inhibit the toxin binding to the membrane receptor. The receptor is solubilized with ionic and non-ionic detergents, and methods of latrotoxin binding assay are developed. The solubilized receptor is shown to retain high affinity to toxin, its binding activity being stable but critically dependent on the presence of calcium ions. Chromatographic properties of the receptor suggest its glycoprotein nature.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Tetanus antitoxin binds to intracellular tetanus toxin in permeabilized chromaffin cells without restoring Ca2(+)-induced exocytosis.

Tetanus toxin blocks Ca2(+)-evoked catecholamine release from permeabilized bovine adrenal chromaffin cells preloaded with gangliosides. Tetanus toxin preincubated with its specific antibodies F(ab')2 is without any effect on exocytosis. Specific antitetanus F(ab')2 presented to chromaffin cells which are pretreated with tetanus toxin and permeabilized by digitonin cannot restore exocytosis. Under the same conditions, however, 125I-labeled F(ab')2 accumulates in chromaffin cells. The accumulation depends on the presence and concentration of tetanus toxin and can be prevented by an excess of unlabeled F(ab')2. Once tetanus toxin has initiated block of exocytosis, it cannot be neutralized by binding to its specific antibody.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

MazF cleaves cellular mRNAs specifically at ACA to block protein synthesis in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli contains operons called "addiction modules," encoding toxin and antitoxin, which are responsible for growth arrest and cell death. Here, we demonstrate that MazF toxin encoded by "mazEF addiction module" is a sequence-specific (ACA) endoribonuclease functional only for single-stranded RNA. MazF works as a ribonuclease independent of ribosomes, and is, therefore, functionally distinct from RelE, another E. coli toxin, which assists mRNA cleavage at the A site on ribosomes. Upon induction, MazF cleaves whole cellular mRNAs to efficiently block protein synthesis. Purified MazF inhibited protein synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell-free systems. This inhibition was released by MazE, the labile antitoxin against MazF. Thus, MazF functions as a toxic endoribonuclease to interfere with the function of cellular mRNAs by cleaving them at specific sequences leading to rapid cell growth arrest and cell death. The role of such endoribonucleases may have broad implication in cell physiology under various growth conditions.

Bacterial Proteins↗