Intracellular expression of the plasmid-encoded toxin from enteroaggregative Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: The plasmid-encoded toxin (Pet) from enteroaggregative Escherichia coli is a serine protease autotransporter that acts as an enterotoxin and cytotoxin. When applied to epithelial cells in culture, purified toxin induces cell elongation and rounding, followed by exfoliation of cells from the substratum. These effects are accompanied by loss of actin stress fibers and electrophysiologic changes. Although it has been hypothesized that Pet has an intracellular site of action, evidence for this is indirect. In addition, Pet has recently been shown to cleave spectrin in vitro and in vivo. If Pet requires intracellular localization to execute its toxic effects, then intracellular expression of the protein could induce cytopathic effects similar to those observed when the toxin is applied to the c

SUBMITTER: Sui BQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC187336 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature