A model of anthrax toxin lethal factor bound to protective antigen

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Nov 8;102(45):16409-14. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0508259102. Epub 2005 Oct 26.

Abstract

Anthrax toxin is made up of three proteins: the edema factor (EF), lethal factor (LF) enzymes, and the multifunctional protective antigen (PA). Proteolytically activated PA heptamerizes, binds the EF/LF enzymes, and forms a pore that allows for EF/LF passage into host cells. Using directed mutagenesis, we identified three LF-PA contact points defined by a specific disulfide crosslink and two pairs of complementary charge-reversal mutations. These contact points were consistent with the lowest energy LF-PA complex found by using Rosetta protein-protein docking. These results illustrate how biochemical and computational methods can be combined to produce reliable models of large complexes. The model shows that EF and LF bind through a highly electrostatic interface, with their flexible N-terminal region positioned at the entrance of the heptameric PA pore and thus poised to initiate translocation in an N- to C-terminal direction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Bacterial Toxins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism
  • Dimerization
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Disulfides
  • anthrax toxin