Binding of class II Escherichia coli enterotoxins to mouse Y1 and intestinal cells

Crystal structure of a new heat-labile enterotoxin, LT-IIb

BACKGROUND

Cholera toxin from Vibrio cholerae and the type I heat-labile enterotoxins (LT-Is) from Escherichia coli are oligomeric proteins with AB5 structures. The type II heat-labile enterotoxins (LT-IIs) from E. coli are structurally similar to, but antigenically distinct from, the type I enterotoxins. The A subunits of type I and type II enterotoxins are homologous and activate adenylate cyclase by ADP-ribosylation of a G protein subunit, G8 alpha. However, the B subunits of type I and type II enterotoxins differ dramatically in amino acid sequence and ganglioside-binding specificity. The structure of LT-IIb was determined both as a prototype for other LT-IIs and to provide additional insights into structure/function relationships among members of the heat-labile enterotoxin family and the superfamily of ADP-ribosylating protein toxins.

RESULTS

The 2.25 A crystal structure of the LT-IIb holotoxin has been determined. The structure reveals striking similarities with LT-I in both the catalytic A subunit and the ganglioside-binding B subunits. The latter form a pentamer which has a central pore with a diameter of 10-18 A. Despite their similarities, the relative orientation between the A polypeptide and the B pentamer differs by 24 degrees in LT-I and LT-IIb. A common hydrophobic ring was observed at the A-B5 interface which may be important in the cholera toxin family for assembly of the AB5 heterohexamer. A cluster of arginine residues at the surface of the A subunit of LT-I and cholera toxin, possibly involved in assembly, is also present in LT-IIb. The ganglioside receptor binding sites are localized, as suggested by mutagenesis, and are in a position roughly similar to the sites where LT-I binds its receptor.

CONCLUSIONS

The structure of LT-IIb provides insight into the sequence diversity and structural similarity of the AB5 toxin family. New knowledge has been gained regarding the assembly of AB5 toxins and their active-site architecture.

Inhibition of heat-labile cholera and Escherichia coli enterotoxins by brefeldin A

Cholera enterotoxin and the related heat-labile enterotoxins of Escherichia coli enter their target cells through noncoated vesicles, but how the toxins are processed intracellularly and how they get to their targeted enzyme, adenylate cyclase, remain to be defined. Brefeldin A, an inhibitor of the trans-Golgi network, is shown herein to transiently block the morphologic and enzymatic effects of the toxin at a step distal to the initial binding process but prior to activation of adenylate cyclase by the toxin. It is likely, therefore, that these toxins are processed by the Golgi apparatus before trafficking to the membrane adenylate cyclase.