An outer membrane channel protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with exotoxin activity. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The ability to control the timing and mode of host cell death plays a pivotal role in microbial infections. Many bacteria use toxins to kill host cells and evade immune responses. Such toxins are unknown in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Virulent M. tuberculosis strains induce necrotic cell death in macrophages by an obscure molecular mechanism. Here we show that the M. tuberculosis protein Rv3903c (channel protein with necrosis-inducing toxin, CpnT) consists of an N-terminal channel domain that is used for uptake of nutrients across the outer membrane and a secreted toxic C-terminal domain. Infection experiments revealed that CpnT is required for survival and cytotoxicity of M. tuberculosis in macrophages. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the C-terminal domain of CpnT causes necrotic cell death in eukaryotic cells. Thus, CpnT has a dual function in uptake of nutrients and induction of host cell death by M. tuberculosis.

publication date

  • April 21, 2014

Research

keywords

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Exotoxins
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC4020113

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84899865820

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2013.11.003

PubMed ID

  • 24753609

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 111

issue

  • 18