ToxT

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Specifically, the cis-palmitoleate appears to bind directly to ToxT, change its conformation, and thus lower the ability to bind DNA and form dimers.<ref name="structure">PMID: 20133655</ref>
Specifically, the cis-palmitoleate appears to bind directly to ToxT, change its conformation, and thus lower the ability to bind DNA and form dimers.<ref name="structure">PMID: 20133655</ref>
</br>
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Though the structure shown is a monomer with two overall domains (N-terminal and C-terminal), ToxT tends to form a dimer. The preferred state of ToxT varies between promoters, but binding to the <i>ctx</i> promoter to generate cholera toxin appears to be possible only in the dimer form. <ref name="virstatin">PMID: 1892951</ref>
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Though the structure shown is a monomer with two overall domains (N-terminal and C-terminal), ToxT tends to form a dimer. The preferred state of ToxT varies between promoters, but binding to the <i>ctx</i> promoter to generate cholera toxin appears to be possible only in the dimer form. <ref name="virstatin">PMID:17283330</ref>
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>

Revision as of 23:59, 26 November 2011

ToxT, 1.9 Angstrom resolution crystal structure

Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate

Introduction

ToxT is a molecule at the end of a transcriptional cascade that autoregulates the transcription of the primary virulence factors of Vibrio cholerae[1] and itself. These two factors, cholera toxin (CT)[2] and the toxin co-regulated pilus (TCP), are instrumental in causing the disease cholera[3]. This is an intestinal infection resulting in massive water loss in the affected individual, causing extreme dehydration.[4]

Structural Features

ToxT belongs to a family of transcriptional regulators known as AraC.[1] The AraC family is defined by a 100 amino acid region of sequence similarity that forms a DNA-binding domain with two helix-turn-helix motifs. [2] The two HTH regions are linked by another alpha helix, which is very polar.
A nine-stranded beta sheet sandwich contains a binding pocket that contains a ligand: cis-palmitoleate, [1] which appears to have a negative effect on virulence when present in vitro. This unsaturated fatty acid, like other UFAs,[5] tend to inhibit genes under the control of ToxT. Specifically, the cis-palmitoleate appears to bind directly to ToxT, change its conformation, and thus lower the ability to bind DNA and form dimers.[1] </br> Though the structure shown is a monomer with two overall domains (N-terminal and C-terminal), ToxT tends to form a dimer. The preferred state of ToxT varies between promoters, but binding to the ctx promoter to generate cholera toxin appears to be possible only in the dimer form. [3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lowden MJ, Skorupski K, Pellegrini M, Chiorazzo MG, Taylor RK, Kull FJ. Structure of Vibrio cholerae ToxT reveals a mechanism for fatty acid regulation of virulence genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Feb 16;107(7):2860-5. Epub 2010 Feb 1. PMID:20133655
  2. Martin RG, Rosner JL. The AraC transcriptional activators. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2001 Apr;4(2):132-7. PMID:11282467
  3. Shakhnovich EA, Hung DT, Pierson E, Lee K, Mekalanos JJ. Virstatin inhibits dimerization of the transcriptional activator ToxT. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Feb 13;104(7):2372-7. Epub 2007 Feb 5. PMID:17283330 doi:10.1073/pnas.0611643104
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