Natural diversity in the N terminus of the mature vacuolating cytotoxin of Helicobacter pylori determines cytotoxin activity.
Naturally occurring noncytotoxic vacA type s2 strains of Helicobacter pylori have a 12-residue extension to the vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) compared with cytotoxic type s1 strains. We show that adding the region encoding this extension to type s1 vacA completely abolishes vacuolating cytotoxin activity but has no effect on VacA production.
Letley
D P
DP
Division of Gastroenterology and Institute of Infections and Immunity, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom. Darren.Letley@nottingham.ac.uk
Atherton
J C
JC
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori