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Determinants of Proteolysis and Cell-Binding for the Shigella flexneri Cytotoxin, SigA

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Abstract

Shigella flexneri secretes an enterotoxic, SPATE family autotransporter (AT), SigA, which has cytopathic activity towards cultured epithelial cells. Its cytopathic activity is due to its ability to degrade the cytoskeletal protein, α-fodrin. The mechanisms by which AT toxins target cells and tissues differ and the details of how SigA acts are not known. In the current study, the determinants of proteolysis and cell-targeting for SigA were determined. We demonstrate that the SigA passenger or α-domain consists of two functionally distinct domains, designated α1 and α2, which are sufficient to specify proteolytic and cell-binding activities, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia

    Eng Guan Chua & Harry Sakellaris

  2. Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Keith Al-Hasani & Ben Adler

  3. Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Action, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia

    Martin Scanlon

  4. Menzies Health Institute Queensland & School of Medical Science, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia

    Harry Sakellaris

Authors
  1. Eng Guan Chua
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  2. Keith Al-Hasani
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  3. Martin Scanlon
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  4. Ben Adler
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  5. Harry Sakellaris
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Correspondence to Harry Sakellaris.

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Chua, E.G., Al-Hasani, K., Scanlon, M. et al. Determinants of Proteolysis and Cell-Binding for the Shigella flexneri Cytotoxin, SigA. Curr Microbiol 71, 613–617 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-015-0893-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-015-0893-8

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