The long-range goals of this grant are to understand the actions of ADP-ribosylating exotoxins in detail; and, where feasible, to apply our knowledge of such toxins to develop better methods of disease control. Work described is focused primarily on diphtheria toxin (DT) and exotoxin A of P. aeruginosa (PT), two related toxins that block protein synthesis in mammalian cells by catalyzing ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2 (EF-2). With respect to DT, we propose: (i) to provide the biochemical component of a collaborative project to determine the 3-dimensional structure of the toxin (and perhaps fragments and mutant forms); (ii) to probe the structure of the catalytic center (particularly the NAD binding site) with the goal of elucidating the mechanism of catalysis of ADP-ribosylation of EF-2; (iii) to investigate the insertion of the B moiety into membranes, with a view to understanding the mechanism by which B promotes transmembrane transfer of the A chain; (iv) to characterize the receptor binding site on the toxin and examine its relationship with the polyphosphate binding site (P-site); (v) to study the structure, specificity, and biological significance of the hig-affinity binding site of DT for endogenous dinucleotides. With respect to PT, we propose: (i) to provide the biochemical support for determination of the 3-dimensional structure through an existing collaboration; (ii) to clone and sequence the structural gene for the toxin; and (iii) to pursue detailed structure-activity studies similar to those outlined for DT. A variety of biochemical and biophysical methods applicable to these problems will be supplemented by the use of monoclonal antibodies, molecular cloning and mutagenesis. The results will be relevant to: (i) detailed understanding of bacterial pathogenesis at the molecular/sub-molecular level; (ii) cell surface receptor-ligand interactions; (iii) mechanisms of insertion and traversal of membranes by proteins; and (iv) potential mechanisms of directing toxic proteins or moieties thereof to specific cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI022021-03
Application #
3132617
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1984-07-01
Project End
1988-04-30
Budget Start
1986-05-01
Budget End
1987-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Jiang, Jiansen; Pentelute, Bradley L; Collier, R John et al. (2015) Atomic structure of anthrax protective antigen pore elucidates toxin translocation. Nature 521:545-9
Boland, Erin L; Van Dyken, Crystal M; Duckett, Rachel M et al. (2014) Structural complementation of the catalytic domain of pseudomonas exotoxin A. J Mol Biol 426:645-55
Sharma, Onkar; Collier, R John (2014) Polylysine-mediated translocation of the diphtheria toxin catalytic domain through the anthrax protective antigen pore. Biochemistry 53:6934-40
McCluskey, Andrew J; Olive, Andrew J; Starnbach, Michael N et al. (2013) Targeting HER2-positive cancer cells with receptor-redirected anthrax protective antigen. Mol Oncol 7:440-51
McCluskey, Andrew J; Collier, R John (2013) Receptor-directed chimeric toxins created by sortase-mediated protein fusion. Mol Cancer Ther 12:2273-81
Pentelute, Brad L; Sharma, Onkar; Collier, R John (2011) Chemical dissection of protein translocation through the anthrax toxin pore. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 50:2294-6
Rodnin, Mykola V; Kyrychenko, Alexander; Kienker, Paul et al. (2011) Replacement of C-terminal histidines uncouples membrane insertion and translocation in diphtheria toxin T-domain. Biophys J 101:L41-3
Janowiak, Blythe E; Jennings-Antipov, Laura D; Collier, R John (2011) Cys-Cys cross-linking shows contact between the N-terminus of lethal factor and Phe427 of the anthrax toxin pore. Biochemistry 50:3512-6
Basilio, Daniel; Jennings-Antipov, Laura D; Jakes, Karen S et al. (2011) Trapping a translocating protein within the anthrax toxin channel: implications for the secondary structure of permeating proteins. J Gen Physiol 137:343-56
Jennings-Antipov, Laura D; Song, Likai; Collier, R John (2011) Interactions of anthrax lethal factor with protective antigen defined by site-directed spin labeling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:1868-73

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