Passage through the Golgi is necessary for Shiga toxin B subunit to reach the endoplasmic reticulum

A real-time cell-binding assay reveals dynamic features of STxB-Gb3 cointernalization and STxB-mediated cargo delivery into cancer cells

The interaction between the Shiga toxin B-subunit (STxB) and its globotriaosylceramide receptor (Gb3) has a high potential for being exploited for targeted cancer therapy. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the capacity of STxB to carry small molecules and proteins as cargo into cells. For this purpose, an assay was designed to provide real-time information about the StxB-Gb3 interaction as well as the dynamics and mechanism of the internalization process. The assay revealed the ability to distinguish the process of binding to the cell surface from internalization and presented the importance of receptor and STxB clustering for internalization. The overall setup demonstrated that the binding mechanism is complex, and the concept of affinity is difficult to apply. Hence, time-resolved methods, providing detailed information about the interaction of STxB with cells, are critical for the optimization of intracellular delivery.

Engineering an AB5 Protein Carrier

The promise of biologic therapeutics is hindered by the challenge to deliver their activity to biochemically relevant sites within diseased cells. The favourable application of the natural protein carriers of the AB₅ toxin family to this challenge has been restricted owing to still unresolved requirements for assembling non-native cargo into carrier complexes. Here, we clarify the properties of fusion peptides which allow co-assembly of a selected fluorescent protein cargo with the non-toxic B subunit of a heat-labile enterotoxin. We establish the influence of sequence length, sequence identity and secondary structure of these linking domains on the assembly and disassembly of the complexes. Through our engineering framework we identify several non-native, reduced length fusion sequences that robustly assemble with the native carriers, maintain their ability to deliver protein cargo to cells, and demonstrate substantially refined in vitro properties. Constructs based upon these sequences should prove directly applicable to a variety of protein delivery challenges, and the described design framework should find immediate application to other members of the AB₅ protein carrier family.

Engineering of bacterial exotoxins for highly efficient and receptor-specific intracellular delivery of diverse cargos

The intracellular delivery of proteins with high efficiency in a receptor-specific manner is of great significance in molecular medicine and biotechnology, but remains a challenge. Herein, we present the development of a highly efficient and receptor-specific delivery platform for protein cargos by combining the receptor binding domain of Escherichia coli Shiga-like toxin and the translocation domain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A. We demonstrated the utility and efficiency of the delivery platform by showing a cytosolic delivery of diverse proteins both in vitro and in vivo in a receptor-specific manner. In particular, the delivery system was shown to be effective for targeting an intracellular protein and consequently suppressing the tumor growth in xenograft mice. The present platform can be widely used for intracellular delivery of diverse functional macromolecules with high efficiency in a receptor-specific manner. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 1639-1646. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Shiga-like toxin-based high-efficiency and receptor-specific intracellular delivery system for a protein

The cell-specific cytosolic delivery of functional macromolecules with high efficiency is of great significance in molecular medicine and biotechnology. Herein, we present a Shiga-like toxin II-based high-efficiency and receptor-specific intracellular delivery system. We designed and constructed the Shiga-like toxin-based carrier (STC) to comprise the targeting and translocation domains, and used it for delivering a protein cargo. The STC was shown to deliver a protein cargo into the cytosol with high efficiency in a receptor-specific manner, exhibiting much higher efficiency than the most widely used cell-penetrating peptide. The general utility of the STC was demonstrated by modulating the targeting domain. The present delivery platform can be widely used for the intracellular delivery of diverse biomolecules in a receptor-specific and genetically encodable manner.

Transport of the cholera toxin B-subunit from recycling endosomes to the Golgi requires clathrin and AP-1

The retrograde pathway is defined by the transport of proteins and lipids from the plasma membrane through endosomes to the Golgi complex, and is essential for a variety of cellular activities. Recycling endosomes are important sorting stations for some retrograde cargo. SMAP2, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Arf1 with a putative clathrin-binding domain, has previously been shown to participate in the retrograde transport of the cholera toxin B-subunit (CTxB) from recycling endosomes. Here, we found that clathrin, a vesicle coat protein, and clathrin adaptor protein complex 1 (AP-1) were present at recycling endosomes and were needed for the retrograde transport of CTxB from recycling endosomes to the Golgi, but not from the plasma membrane to recycling endosomes. SMAP2 immunoprecipitated clathrin and AP-1 through a putative clathrin-binding domain and a CALM-binding domain, and SMAP2 mutants that did not interact with clathrin or AP-1 could not localize to recycling endosomes. Moreover, knockdown of Arf1 suppressed the retrograde transport of CTxB from recycling endosomes to the Golgi. These findings suggest that retrograde transport is mediated by clathrin-coated vesicles from recycling endosomes and that the role of the coat proteins is in the recruitment of Arf GAP to transport vesicles.

Failure of manganese to protect from Shiga toxin

Shiga toxin (Stx), the main virulence factor of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli, is a major public health threat, causing hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Currently, there are no approved therapeutics for these infections; however manganese has been reported to provide protection from the Stx1 variant isolated from Shigella dysenteriae (Stx1-S) both in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the efficacy of manganese protection from Stx1-S and the more potent Stx2a isoform, using experimental systems well-established for studying Stx: in vitro responses of Vero monkey kidney cells, and in vivo toxicity to CD-1 outbred mice. Manganese treatment at the reported therapeutic concentration was toxic to Vero cells in culture and to CD-1 mice. At lower manganese concentrations that were better tolerated, we observed no protection from Stx1-S or Stx2a toxicity. The ability of manganese to prevent the effects of Stx may be particular to certain cell lines, mouse strains, or may only be manifested at high, potentially toxic manganese concentrations.

SMAP2 regulates retrograde transport from recycling endosomes to the Golgi

Retrograde transport is where proteins and lipids are transported back from the plasma membrane (PM) and endosomes to the Golgi, and crucial for a diverse range of cellular functions. Recycling endosomes (REs) serve as a sorting station for the retrograde transport and we recently identified evection-2, an RE protein with a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, as an essential factor of this pathway. How evection-2 regulates retrograde transport from REs to the Golgi is not well understood. Here, we report that evection-2 binds to SMAP2, an Arf GTPase-activating protein. Endogenous SMAP2 localized mostly in REs and to a lesser extent, the trans-Golgi network (TGN). SMAP2 binds evection-2, and the RE localization of SMAP2 was abolished in cells depleted of evection-2. Knockdown of SMAP2, like that of evection-2, impaired the retrograde transport of cholera toxin B subunit (CTxB) from REs. These findings suggest that evection-2 recruits SMAP2 to REs, thereby regulating the retrograde transport of CTxB from REs to the Golgi.

Retromer guides STxB and CD8-M6PR from early to recycling endosomes, EHD1 guides STxB from recycling endosome to Golgi

Retrograde trafficking transports proteins, lipids and toxins from the plasma membrane to the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To reach the Golgi, these cargos must transit the endosomal system, consisting of early endosomes (EE), recycling endosomes, late endosomes and lysosomes. All cargos pass through EE, but may take different routes to the Golgi. Retromer-dependent cargos bypass the late endosomes to reach the Golgi. We compared how two very different retromer-dependent cargos negotiate the endosomal sorting system. Shiga toxin B, bound to the external layer of the plasma membrane, and chimeric CD8-mannose-6-phosphate receptor (CI-M6PR), which is anchored via a transmembrane domain. Both appear to pass through the recycling endosome. Ablation of the recycling endosome diverted both of these cargos to an aberrant compartment and prevented them from reaching the Golgi. Once in the recycling endosome, Shiga toxin required EHD1 to traffic to the TGN, while the CI-M6PR was not significantly dependent on EHD1. Knockdown of retromer components left cargo in the EE, suggesting that it is required for retrograde exit from this compartment. This work establishes the recycling endosome as a required step in retrograde traffic of at least these two retromer-dependent cargos. Along this pathway, retromer is associated with EE to recycling endosome traffic, while EHD1 is associated with recycling endosome to TGN traffic of STxB.

Structure-dependent pseudoreceptor intracellular traffic of adamantyl globotriaosyl ceramide mimics

The verotoxin (VT) (Shiga toxin) receptor globotriaosyl ceramide (Gb(3)), mediates VT1/VT2 retrograde transport to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for cytosolic A subunit access to inhibit protein synthesis. Adamantyl Gb(3) is an amphipathic competitive inhibitor of VT1/VT2 Gb(3) binding. However, Gb(3)-negative VT-resistant CHO/Jurkat cells incorporate adaGb(3) to become VT1/VT2-sensitive. CarboxyadaGb(3), urea-adaGb(3), and hydroxyethyl adaGb(3), preferentially bound by VT2, also mediate VT1/VT2 cytotoxicity. VT1/VT2 internalize to early endosomes but not to Golgi/ER. AdabisGb(3) (two deacyl Gb(3)s linked to adamantane) protects against VT1/VT2 more effectively than adaGb(3) without incorporating into Gb(3)-negative cells. AdaGb(3) (but not hydroxyethyl adaGb(3)) incorporation into Gb(3)-positive Vero cells rendered punctate cell surface VT1/VT2 binding uniform and subverted subsequent Gb(3)-dependent retrograde transport to Golgi/ER to render cytotoxicity (reduced for VT1 but not VT2) brefeldin A-resistant. VT2-induced vacuolation was maintained in adaGb(3)-treated Vero cells, but vacuolar membrane VT2 was lost. AdaGb(3) destabilized membrane cholesterol and reduced Gb(3) cholesterol stabilization in phospholipid liposomes. Cholera toxin GM1-mediated Golgi/ER targeting was unaffected by adaGb(3). We demonstrate the novel, lipid-dependent, pseudoreceptor function of Gb(3) mimics and their structure-dependent modulation of endogenous intracellular Gb(3) vesicular traffic.

Lipid-mediated endocytosis

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is used by a number of viruses and toxins to gain entry into cells. Some have evolved to use specific lipids in the plasma membrane as their receptors. They include bacterial toxins such as Shiga and Cholera toxin and viruses such as mouse polyoma virus and simian virus 40. Through multivalent binding to glycosphingolipids, they induce lipid clustering and changes in membrane properties. Internalization occurs by unusual endocytic mechanisms involving lipid rafts, induction of membrane curvature, trans-bilayer coupling, and activation of signaling pathways. Once delivered to early endosomes, they follow diverse intracellular routes to the lumen of the ER, from which they penetrate into the cytosol. The role of the lipid receptors is central in these well-studied processes.

How ricin and Shiga toxin reach the cytosol of target cells: retrotranslocation from the endoplasmic reticulum

A number of protein toxins bind at the surface of mammalian cells and after endocytosis traffic to the endoplasmic reticulum, where the toxic A chains are liberated from the holotoxin. The free A chains are then dislocated, or retrotranslocated, across the ER membrane into the cytosol. Here, in contrast to ER substrates destined for proteasomal destruction, they undergo folding to a catalytic conformation and subsequently inactivate their cytosolic targets. These toxins therefore provide toxic probes for testing the molecular requirements for retrograde trafficking, the ER processes that prepare the toxic A chains for transmembrane transport, the dislocation step itself and for the post-dislocation folding that results in catalytic activity. We describe here the dislocation of ricin A chain and Shiga toxin A chain, but also consider cholera toxin which bears a superficial structural resemblance to Shiga toxin. Recent studies not only describe how these proteins breach the ER membrane, but also reveal aspects of a fundamental cell biological process, that of ER-cytosol dislocation.

Induction of apoptosis by Shiga toxins

Shiga toxins comprise a family of structurally and functionally related protein toxins expressed by Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 and multiple serotypes of Escherichia coli. While the capacity of Shiga toxins to inhibit protein synthesis by catalytic inactivation of eukaryotic ribosomes has been well described, it is also apparent that Shiga toxins trigger apoptosis in many cell types. This review presents evidence that Shiga toxins induce apoptosis of epithelial, endothelial, leukocytic, lymphoid and neuronal cells. Apoptotic signaling pathways activated by the toxins are reviewed with an emphasis on signaling mechanisms that are shared among different cell types. Data suggesting that Shiga toxins induce apoptosis through the endoplasmic reticulum stress response and clinical evidence demonstrating apoptosis in humans infected with Shiga toxin-producing bacteria are briefly discussed. The potential for use of Shiga toxins to induce apoptosis in cancer cells is briefly reviewed.

Shiga toxins--from cell biology to biomedical applications

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli is an emergent pathogen that can induce haemolytic uraemic syndrome. The toxin has received considerable attention not only from microbiologists but also in the field of cell biology, where it has become a powerful tool to study intracellular trafficking. In this Review, we summarize the Shiga toxin family members and their structures, receptors, trafficking pathways and cellular targets. We discuss how Shiga toxin affects cells not only by inhibiting protein biosynthesis but also through the induction of signalling cascades that lead to apoptosis. Finally, we discuss how Shiga toxins might be exploited in cancer therapy and immunotherapy.

Retrograde Shiga toxin trafficking is regulated by ARHGAP21 and Cdc42

Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli remain a food-borne health threat. Shiga toxin is endocytosed by intestinal epithelial cells and transported retrogradely through the secretory pathway. It is ultimately translocated to the cytosol where it inhibits protein translation. We found that Shiga toxin transport through the secretory pathway was dependent on the cytoskeleton. Recent studies reveal that Shiga toxin activates signaling pathways that affect microtubule reassembly and dynein-dependent motility. We propose that Shiga toxin alters cytoskeletal dynamics in a way that facilitates its transport through the secretory pathway. We have now found that Rho GTPases regulate the endocytosis and retrograde motility of Shiga toxin. The expression of RhoA mutants inhibited endocytosis of Shiga toxin. Constitutively active Cdc42 or knockdown of the Cdc42-specific GAP, ARHGAP21, inhibited the transport of Shiga toxin to the juxtanuclear Golgi apparatus. The ability of Shiga toxin to stimulate microtubule-based transferrin transport also required Cdc42 and ARHGAP21 function. Shiga toxin addition greatly decreases the levels of active Cdc42-GTP in an ARHGAP21-dependent manner. We conclude that ARHGAP21 and Cdc42-based signaling regulates the dynein-dependent retrograde transport of Shiga toxin to the Golgi apparatus.