Function
Diphtheria toxin (DT) is a toxin which is secreted by the bacteria causing diphtheria. DT contains 2 subunits. Subunit A contains the catalytic domain and subunit B contains the transmembrane and receptor-binding domains. DT catalyzes the transfer of NAD to a diphthamide residue in the elongatin factor-2 and thus inhibiting protein synthesis.
Disease
A lethal dose of DT is ca. 0.1 μg per 1 kg of bodyweight.
Relevance
Structural highlights
3D structures of diphtheria toxin
Updated on 26-August-2014
Diphtheria toxin
1sgk, 4ow6 – CbDT – Corynebacterium diphtheriae
4ae0 – CdDT (mutant)
Diphtheria toxin complex
1ddt, 1mdt, 1f0l – CdDT + adenylyl phosphor-UMP
1tox – CdDT + NAD
4ae1 – CdDT (mutant) + nicotinamide
1xdt – CdDT + heparin-binding epidermal growth factor
1dtp – CdDT catalytic domain + adenylyl phosphor-UMP
References