The long-term goal of my research program is to understand the molecular mechanisms that allow certain AB-type toxins to cross the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and enter the cytosol of an intoxicated eukaryotic cell. AB toxins consist of a catalytic A subunit and a cell-binding B subunit. A subset of AB toxins travels from the cell surface to the ER before A chain translocation into the cytosol. AB-type, ER- translocating toxins include cholera toxin (CT), pertussis toxin, Shiga toxin, and ricin. These toxins exploit the quality control mechanism of ER-associated degradation (ERAD) in order to move from the ER to the cytosol. Current models of toxin-ERAD interactions assume the toxin A chain is stable and protease- resistant, but recent work has shown that multiple ER-translocating toxins actually contain A chains that are thermally unstable after dissociation from the holotoxin. Based upon our work with the catalytic subunit of CT (CTA1), we have developed a new model of toxin-ERAD interactions in which toxin translocation, degradation, and activity are all linked to the heat-labile nature of the isolated toxin A chain. This model is in marked contrast to the prevailing view of ERAD-mediated toxin translocation and makes distinct predictions in regards to how host-toxin interactions affect the intoxication process. To test our model, this project will use a variety of biophysical and biochemical techniques to examine how the folding state of CTA1 affects, and is affected by, its association with components of the ERAD system and other eukaryotic factors known to interact with the toxin. Biophysical and biochemical studies of other ER-translocating toxins will also be used to test our prediction that thermal instability is a common property of toxins that exploit ERAD to enter the eukaryotic cell. The work of this project will produce a major conceptual shift in the pathogenesis of ER- translocating toxins, with direct applications to the development of new anti-toxin therapeutic strategies and to a basic understanding of the ERAD mechanism.

Public Health Relevance

TO PUBLIC HEALTH: In order to attack the target cell, certain toxins must first unfold to enter the cell and must then refold inside the cell to become active. Factors associated with the target cell modulate this process, so an understanding of toxin-target interactions could lead to the development of novel anti-toxin therapeutics that prevent the unfolding and/or refolding events required for toxin activity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI073783-04
Application #
7774395
Study Section
Host Interactions with Bacterial Pathogens Study Section (HIBP)
Program Officer
Hall, Robert H
Project Start
2007-03-15
Project End
2012-02-29
Budget Start
2010-03-01
Budget End
2011-02-28
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$344,773
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Central Florida
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
150805653
City
Orlando
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32826
Taylor, Michael; Curtis, David; Teter, Ken (2015) A Conformational Shift in the Dissociated Cholera Toxin A1 Subunit Prevents Reassembly of the Cholera Holotoxin. Toxins (Basel) 7:2674-84
Banerjee, Tuhina; Taylor, Michael; Jobling, Michael G et al. (2014) ADP-ribosylation factor 6 acts as an allosteric activator for the folded but not disordered cholera toxin A1 polypeptide. Mol Microbiol 94:898-912
Taylor, Michael; Burress, Helen; Banerjee, Tuhina et al. (2014) Substrate-induced unfolding of protein disulfide isomerase displaces the cholera toxin A1 subunit from its holotoxin. PLoS Pathog 10:e1003925
Ray, Supriyo; Taylor, Michael; Banerjee, Tuhina et al. (2012) Lipid rafts alter the stability and activity of the cholera toxin A1 subunit. J Biol Chem 287:30395-405
Taylor, Michael; Banerjee, Tuhina; VanBennekom, Neyda et al. (2012) Detection of toxin translocation into the host cytosol by surface plasmon resonance. J Vis Exp :e3686
Taylor, Michael; Banerjee, Tuhina; Ray, Supriyo et al. (2011) Protein-disulfide isomerase displaces the cholera toxin A1 subunit from the holotoxin without unfolding the A1 subunit. J Biol Chem 286:22090-100
Taylor, Michael; Banerjee, Tuhina; Navarro-Garcia, Fernando et al. (2011) A therapeutic chemical chaperone inhibits cholera intoxication and unfolding/translocation of the cholera toxin A1 subunit. PLoS One 6:e18825
Ray, Supriyo; Taylor, Michael; Burlingame, Mansfield et al. (2011) Modulation of toxin stability by 4-phenylbutyric acid and negatively charged phospholipids. PLoS One 6:e23692
Massey, Shane; Burress, Helen; Taylor, Michael et al. (2011) Structural and functional interactions between the cholera toxin A1 subunit and ERdj3/HEDJ, a chaperone of the endoplasmic reticulum. Infect Immun 79:4739-47
Nemec, Kathleen N; Scaglione, Patricia; Navarro-Garcia, Fernando et al. (2010) A host-specific factor is necessary for efficient folding of the autotransporter plasmid-encoded toxin. Biochimie 92:171-7

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