title: The ins and outs of pertussis toxin.
abstract: Pertussis toxin, produced and secreted by the whooping cough agent Bordetella pertussis, is one of the most complex soluble bacterial proteins. It is actively secreted through the B. pertussis cell envelope by the Ptl secretion system, a member of the widespread type IV secretion systems. The toxin is composed of five subunits (named S1 to S5 according to their decreasing molecular weights) arranged in an A-B structure. The A protomer is composed of the enzymatically active S1 subunit, which catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of the α subunit of trimeric G proteins, thereby disturbing the metabolic functions of the target cells, leading to a variety of biological activities. The B oligomer is composed of 1S2:1S3:2S4:1S5 and is responsible for binding of the toxin to the target cell receptors and for intracellular trafficking via receptor-mediated endocytosis and retrograde transport. The toxin is one of the most important virulence factors of B. pertussis and is a component of all current vaccines against whooping cough.
authors: Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Univ Lille Nord de France, France. camille.locht@pasteur-lille.fr
authors: Camille
authors: C
authors: Locht
authors: Loic
authors: L
authors: Coutte
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Mielcarek
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008958:Models, Molecular; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021381:Protein Transport; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins