A recombinant fusion toxin based on enzymatic inactive C3bot1 selectively targets macrophages.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The C3bot1 protein (~23 kDa) from Clostridium botulinum ADP-ribosylates and thereby inactivates Rho. C3bot1 is selectively taken up into the cytosol of monocytes/macrophages but not of other cell types such as epithelial cells or fibroblasts. Most likely, the internalization occurs by a specific endocytotic pathway via acidified endosomes.

Methodology/principal findings

Here, we tested whether enzymatic inactive C3bot1E174Q serves as a macrophage-selective transport system for delivery of enzymatic active proteins into the cytosol of such cells. Having confirmed that C3bot1E174Q does not induce macrophage activation, we used the actin ADP-ribosylating C2I (∼50 kDa) from Clostridium botulinum as a reporter enzyme for C3bot1E174Q-mediated delivery into macrophages.

SUBMITTER: Dmochewitz L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3549961 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature