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Bacterial protein toxins and cell vesicle trafficking

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Abstract

A group of bacterial protein toxins interfere with vesicular trafficking inside cells. Clostridial neurotoxins affect mainly the highly regulated fusion of neurotransmitter- and hormone-containing vesicles with the plasma membrane. They cleave the three SNARE proteins: VAMP, SNAP-25 and syntaxin, and this selective proteolysis results in a blockade of exocytosis. TheHelicobacter pylori cytotoxin is implicated in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal ulcers. It causes a progressive and extensive vacuolation of cells followed by necrosis, after a cytotoxin-induced alteration of membrane trafficking by late endosomes. Vacuoles originate from this compartment in a rab7-dependent process and swell because they are acidic and accumulate membrane-permeant amines.

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  1. Centro CNR Biomembrane and Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Padova, Via Trieste 75, I-35121, Padova, (Italy)

    C. Montecucco & E. Papini

  2. Cellular Biochemistry and Biophysics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, 10021, New York, New York, USA

    G. Schiavo

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Montecucco, C., Papini, E. & Schiavo, G. Bacterial protein toxins and cell vesicle trafficking. Experientia 52, 1026–1032 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01952098

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