Effect of the cytotoxin of Clostridium difficile on cultured hepatoma cells.
Clostridium difficile is the major etiologic agent of human pseudomembranous colitis. It produces two toxins: an enterotoxin and a cytotoxin. In cultured hepatoma cells, at very low doses, the cytotoxin inhibits the incorporation of precursors into biological macromolecules. Protein synthesis is more affected than RNA and DNA synthesis. The toxin also induces severe alterations of the cell morphology consisting in damages to the cytoskeleton and to the cell shape.
Rihn
B
B
Beck
G
G
Monteil
H
H
Lecerf
F
F
Girardot
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003013:Clostridium; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile; D012313:RNA; D007930:Leucine