An outer membrane channel protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with exotoxin activity

Danilchanka O, Sun J, Pavlenok M, Maueröder C, Speer A, Siroy A, Marrero J, Trujillo C, Mayhew DL, Doornbos KS, Munoz LE, Herrmann M, Ehrt S, Berens C, Niederweis M (2014)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America National Academy of Sciences

Book Volume: 111

Pages Range: 6750-5

Journal Issue: 18

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1400136111

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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Christian Maueröder Professur für Mikrobiologie Martin Herrmann Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Christian Berens Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie

Involved external institutions

Cornell University US United States (USA) (US) University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Danilchanka, O., Sun, J., Pavlenok, M., Maueröder, C., Speer, A., Siroy, A.,... Niederweis, M. (2014). An outer membrane channel protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with exotoxin activity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(18), 6750-5. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1400136111

MLA:

Danilchanka, Olga, et al. "An outer membrane channel protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with exotoxin activity." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 111.18 (2014): 6750-5.

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