title: Analysis of the structure-function relationship of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A.
abstract: Biochemical and genetic techniques have provided considerable insight into the structure-function relationship of one of the ADP-ribosyl transferases produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, exotoxin A. Exotoxin A contains a typical prokaryotic signal sequence which, in combination with the first 30 amino-terminal amino acids of the mature protein, is sufficient for exotoxin A secretion from P. aeruginosa. Determination of the nucleotide sequence and crystalline structure of this prokaryotic toxin allowed a molecular model to be constructed. The model reveals three structural domains of exotoxin A. Analysis of the identified domains shows that the amino-terminal domain (domain I) is involved in recognition of eukaryotic target cells. Furthermore, the central domain (domain II) is involved in secretion of exotoxin A into the periplasm of Escherichia coli. Evidence also implicates the role of domain II in translocation of exotoxin A from the eukaryotic vesicle which contains the toxin after it becomes internalized into susceptible eukaryotic cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. The carboxy-terminal portion of exotoxin A (domain III) encodes the enzymatic activity of the molecule. The structure of this domain includes a cleft which is hypothesized to be the catalytic site of the enzyme. Several residues within domain III have been identified as having a direct role in catalysis, while others are hypothesized to play an important structural role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York 14642.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wick
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Hamood
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Iglewski
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
chemical_list: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A