Sialic acid facilitates binding and cytotoxic activity of the pore-forming Clostridium perfringens NetF toxin to host cells.

ABSTRACT: NetF-producing type A Clostridium perfringens is an important cause of canine and foal necrotizing enteritis. NetF, related to the β-sheet pore-forming Leukocidin/Hemolysin superfamily, is considered a major virulence factor for this disease. The main purpose of this work is to demonstrate the pore-forming activity of NetF and characterize the chemical nature of its binding site. Electron microscopy using recombinant NetF (rNetF) confirmed that NetF is able to oligomerize and form large pores in equine ovarian (EO) cell membranes and sheep red blood cells. These oligomeric pores appear to be about 4-6 nm in diameter, and the number of oligomer subunits to vary from 6 to 9. Sodium periodate treatment rendered EO cells non-susceptible to NetF, suggesting that NetF binding requires cell surfa

SUBMITTER: Mehdizadeh Gohari I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6221314 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature