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Diphtheria toxinDiphtheria toxin is an exotoxin secreted by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the pathogen bacterium that causes diphtheria. Additional recommended knowledge
StructureDiphtheria toxin is a single polypeptide chain of 535 amino acids consisting of two subunits linked by disulfide bridges. Binding to the cell surface of the less stable of these two subunits allows the more stable part of the protein to penetrate the host cell.[1] MechanismIt catalyzes the ADP-ribosylation eucaryotic elongation factor-2 (eEF2), inactivating this protein. It does so by ADP-ribosylating the unusual aminoacid diphthamide. In this way, it acts as a RNA translational inhibitor. The exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses a similar mechanism of action. Lethal doseDiphtheria toxin is extraordinarily potent.[1] The lethal dose for humans is about 0.1 μg of toxin per kg of bodyweight. A massive release of toxin into the body will likely cause lethal necrosis of the heart and liver.[2] HistoryDiphtheria toxin was discovered in 1890 by Emil Adolf von Bering. Clinical useThe drug denileukin diftitox uses diphtheria toxin as an antineoplastic agent. References
Categories: Peripheral membrane proteins | Toxins |
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Diphtheria_toxin". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |