Biological Activity of Heated Diphtheria Toxin

Diphtheria toxin splits into two fragments when heated at 100 C for 10 min in a phosphate buffer. The separated fragments have molecular weights of 24,000 and 39,000, respectively. These molecular weights are similar to those of the A and B fragments found in diphtheria toxin preparations after thiol reduction. Since the separation of toxin into fragments is not complete, it is likely that only nicked toxin molecules having a cleaved peptide bond are split by heating. When toxin is suspended in phosphate buffer at pH 6.4, the B-like fragment precipitates, but at pH 7.8 it does not. Heated toxin is unable to intoxicate sensitive cells or cause a necrodermal response in animals. Fragment A produced by heating is active in inhibiting cell-free protein synthesis. It is able to intoxicate both HeLa and L cells when the uptake of the fragment is facilitated by addition of polyornithine to the cultures. Fragment B produced by heating is involved with binding to the cell surface. It is able to delay the action of toxin on KB cell cultures preincubated with fragment B.     

Binding properties of diphtheria toxin to cells are altered by mutation in the fragment A domain

CRM197, CRM176, and CRM228 are products of single or multiple missense mutations in the diphtheria toxin gene. CRM197 differs from wild-type toxin in 1 amino acid residue of the fragment A region, and also CRM176 and CRM228 have amino acid substitution(s) in fragment A. We compared the binding properties of CRM197 to toxin-sensitive Vero cells with those of diphtheria toxin and other CRMs. Nicked CRM197 is about 50 times more effective than intact CRM197 in inhibiting the action of diphtheria toxin on sensitive cells, as shown by inhibition of diphtheria toxin cytotoxicity or inhibition of binding of 125I-diphtheria toxin. The binding of native toxin or other CRMs was not significantly affected by nicking. Moreover, the binding of CRM197 to cells was unaffected by ATP, although ATP clearly inhibits binding of diphtheria toxin, CRM176, and CRM228. Two kinds of hybrid protein were formed using fragment B of CRM197: one with fragment A of diphtheria toxin and one with fragment A of CRM228. ATP inhibited the binding of these hybrid proteins. Furthermore, the affinities of these hybrid proteins for diphtheria toxin-sensitive cells were the same as that of native toxin. Thus, it was concluded that the altered binding properties of CRM197 were due to alteration of fragment A and what the interaction of diphtheria toxin with ATP involves both fragments. The results also suggest that fragment A plays a role in diphtheria toxin-receptor interaction.     

The amino acid sequence of fragment A, an enzymically active fragment of diphtheria toxin. III. The chymotryptic peptides, the peptides derived by cleavage at tryptophan residues, and the complete sequence of the protein.

Fragment A (21,145 daltons in its longest known form) may be derived from diphtheria toxin (60,000 daltons) by mild tryptic digestion and reduction. Purified Fragment A consists of a mixture of 3 molecules of 190, 192, and 193 residues; the first 190 residues are in common and correspond to the NH2-terminal region the toxin. All three species of Fragment A are active in catalyzing ADP ribosylation of elongation factor 2, an essential component of protein synthesis. This reaction inactivates the factor and is responsible for the toxin's action in inhibiting protein synthesis in animal cells. It is believed that Fragment A or similar enzymically active fragments released into the cytosol of toxin-treated cells mediate this inhibition. The complete amino acid sequence of Fragment A has been determined from 32 chymotryptic peptides, three peptides derived by chemical cleavage of Fragment A at its 2 tryptophan residues, five cyanogen bromide peptides, and six tryptic peptides from the maleylated protein.     

Artificial hybrid protein containing a toxic protein fragment and a cell membrane receptor-binding moiety in a disulfide conjugate. II. Biochemical and biologic properties of diphtheria toxin fragment A-S-S-human placental lactogen.

The biochemical and biologic properties of a purified disulfide conjugate of diphtheria toxin fragment A and human placental lactogen (toxin A-hPL) have been studied by (a) assaying the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of the intact conjugate, (b) assaying the binding of the intact conjugate to mammary gland plasma membrane lactogenic receptors, and (c) assaying the effect of the conjugate on the rate of protein synthesis in rabbit mammary gland explants maintained in organ culture. The toxin A-hPL conjugate retains one-third of the NAD+:EF-2 ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of toxin A, and 26% of the hPL-binding activity to lactogenic receptors. Binding activity was demonstrated by radioreceptor assay and by assaying toxin A activity bound to membranes which was competitively displaced by excess hPL. Since the toxin A-hPL conjugate retained activities of its separate subunits, it could be regarded as a structural analogue of nicked diphtheria toxin with replacement of the original membrane-binding chain by another binding chain that is specific for lactogenic receptor. However, the conjugate failed to inhibit protein synthesis in organ-cultured mammary gland explants, although these were sensitive to native diphtheria toxin and could bind hPL. It is concluded from these results that the toxin A-hPL conjugate does not act as a functional analogue of diphtheria toxin with altered receptor specificity, and that the hPL receptor cannot mediate the entry of toxin A or toxin A-hPL from membrane-bound conjugate into the cytosol site of action of toxin A.     

Studies of microbial toxins in Xenopus laevis oocytes

Xenopus laevis oocytes have been incubated or microinjected with cholera and diphtheria holotoxins or their respective isolated fragments A and B. Effects on progesterone-induced maturation, protein synthesis and cAMP levels were observed. Xenopus laevis oocytes were highly susceptible to cholera toxin upon incubation as evidenced by the increase of cAMP (two-fold increase in cAMP with 0.1 nM cholera toxin) and the blockade of progesterone-induced maturation. When isolated cholera toxin fragments A or B were incubated with oocytes, no activity could be detected. However, microinjection of cholera toxin fragment A into oocyte was able to mimic the effects of incubated holotoxin. Microinjection of cholera toxin B fragment was only effective at very high concentrations, probably due to trace contaminations by the A fragment. On the other hand, Xenopus laevis oocytes were very resistant to diphtheria toxin action upon incubation, a result attributable to lack of specific membrane receptors since, after microinjection of diphtheria toxin A fragment into oocytes, inhibition of protein synthesis was demonstrated. By simultaneous microinjection of highly radioactive adenine-labelled NAD and diphtheria toxin fragment A into oocytes, radioactive ADP ribosylation of the elongation factor 2 (EF₂) was observed. It is proposed that Xenopus laevis oocytes provide a new experimental approach for studying the mechanisms of action of microbial toxins.     

Expression of a biologically active diphtheria toxin fragment B in Escherichia coli

The toxB gene of Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteriophage β encoding the B fragment of diphtheria toxin was cloned into an inducible expression vector. When expressed In Escherichia coli, fragment B was not proteolysed and was indistinguishable, by immunological criteria, from wild-type C. diphthsriae derived fragment B. Soluble fragment B was partially purified from the cytoplasm by saline precipitation steps and was shown to compete with the wild-type diphtheria toxin for binding to receptors of sensitive eukaryotic cells. A complete diphtheria toxin was reconstituted by formation of the disulphide bridge between purified fragment A and recombinant fragment B, which migrates at the expected Mr on Western blots and which was able to block protein synthesis by ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor–2, thereby indicating that the recombinant fragment B had retained its biological activity.     

Mechanism of Action of Pseudomonas syringae Phytotoxin, Syringomycin : Stimulation of Red Beet Plasma Membrane ATPase Activity

Syringomycin, a peptide toxin produced by the phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae preferentially stimulated (2-fold) the vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity associated with the plasma membrane of red beet storage tissue. The toxin had a very slight effect on the tonoplast ATPase and had no detectable effect on the mitochondrial ATPase. Optimal stimulation was achieved with 10 to 50 micrograms of syringomycin per 25 micrograms of membrane protein. Treatment of membranes with 0.1% (weight/volume) deoxycholate eliminated the activation effect, and enzyme solubilized with Zwittergent 3-14 was not affected by syringomycin. ATPase activity was activated to the same extent at KCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 50 millimolar. Valinomycin, nigericin, carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, and gramicidin did not increase the plasma membrane ATPase activity. However, these ionophores did not hinder the ability of syringomycin to stimulate the activity. We suggest that syringomycin does not increase ATPase activity by altering membrane ion gradients nor directly interacting with the enzyme, but possibly through regulatory effectors or covalent modification of the enzyme.     

Effect of heliomycin on the respiration and oxidative phosphorylation of the liver mitochondria of the rat

The effect of heliomycin and known uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation on respiration and oxidative phosphorylation was studied comparatively. Heliomycin, as well as 2,4-dinitrophenol, valinomycin and gramicidin S inhibited the mitochondrial synthesis of ATP. This process was inhibited completely by heliomycin at a concentration of 1.5 x 10(-5) M. The synthesis of inorganic pyrophosphate, the other macroergic compound, was also inhibited by heliomycin, ATPase and pyrophosphatase of uncoupled mitochondria being not inhibited by the antibiotic. Like 2,4-dinitrophenol, heliomycin stimulated the synthesis of ATPase and respiration in intact mitochondria. Probably, heliomycin inhibited the synthesis of ATP and pyrophosphate by uncoupling the processes of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. It was shown earlier that heliomycin, a specific inhibitor of bacterial RNA synthesis, also affected energy metabolism of bacterial cells by inhibiting the synthesis of ATP and active transport.     

Stimulatory effect of regucalcin on mitochondrial ATP‐dependent calcium uptake activity in rat kidney cortex

The effect of regucalcin, which is a regulatory protein of Ca²⁺ signaling, on Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity in isolated rat renal cortex mitochondria was investigated. The presence of regucalcin (50, 100, and 250 nM) in the enzyme reaction mixture led to a significant increase in Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity. Regucalcin significantly stimulated ATP‐dependent ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake by the mitochondria. Ruthenium red (10⁻⁶ M) or lanthunum chloride (10⁻⁶ M), an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake, markedly inhibited regucalcin (100 nM)‐increased mitochondrial Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity and ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake. The effect of regucalcin (100 nM) in elevating Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity was completely prevented by the presence of digitonin (10⁻²%), a solubilizing reagent of membranous lipids, vanadate, an inhibitor of phosphorylation of ATPase, or dithiothreitol (50 mM), a protecting reagent of the sulfhydryl (SH) group of the enzyme. The activating effect of regucalcin (100 nM) on Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity was not further enhanced by calmodulin (0.30 μM) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10⁻⁴ M), which could increase Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity. Trifluoperazine (TFP; 50 μM), an antagonist of calmodulin, significantly decreased Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity. The activating effect of regucalcin on the enzyme was also seen in the presence of TFP, indicating that regucalcin's effect is not involved in mitochondrial calmodulin. The present study demonstrates that regucalcin can stimulate Ca²⁺‐pump activity in rat renal cortex mitochondria, and that the protein may act on an active site (SH group) related to phosphorylation of mitochondrial Ca²⁺‐ATPase. J. Cell. Biochem. 80:285–292, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Mutant with diphtheria toxin receptor and acidification function but defective in entry of toxin

A mutant of Chinese hamster ovary cells, GE1, that is highly resistant to diphtheria toxin was isolated. The mutant contains 50% ADP-ribosylatable elongation factor 2, but its protein synthesis was not inhibited by the toxin even at concentrations above 100 μg/ml. ¹²⁵I-labeled diphtheria toxin was associated with GE1 cells as well as with the parent cells but did not block protein synthesis of GE1 cells even when the cells were exposed to low pH in the presence or absence of NH₄Cl. The infections of GE1 cells and the parent cells by vesicular stomatitis virus were similar. GE1 cells were cross-resistant to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A and so were about 1000 times more resistant to this toxin than the parent cells. Hybrids of GE1 cells and the parent cells or mutant cells lacking a functional receptor were more sensitive to diphtheria toxin than GE1 cells. These results suggest that entry of diphtheria toxin into cells requires a cellular factor(s) in addition to those involved in receptor function and acidification of endosomes and that GE1 cells do not express this cellular factor. This character is recessive in GE1 cells.     

Action of diphtheria toxin does not depend on the induction of large,stable pores across biological membranes

Summary Vero cells exposed to diphtheria toxin at pH 4.5 leak monovalent cations but not amino acids or phosphorylated metabolites; affected cells do not take up trypan blue. Monovalent cation leakage is inhibited by 1mmCd²⁺, but not by 1mmZn²⁺ or Ca²⁺. Cd²⁺ blocks calcein leakage from liposomes and closes diphtheria toxin-induced channels in lipid bilayers. It is concluded that translocation of the A fragment of diphtheria toxin across biological membranes does not depend on the formation of large stable pores, but that small Cd²⁺-sensitive pores may play a role.     

Interaction of diphtheria toxin fragments A, B and protein crm 45 with liposomes

Diphtheria toxin, its fragments A, B and the protein serologically related to toxin, crm 45, have been studied for their hydrophobicity using the method of charge shift electrophoresis. These molecules were then assayed for liposome interaction. The results have shown that the diphtheria toxin B fragment behaves as an amphiphatic protein because it contains a hydrophobic domain located in that portion of the B chain which remains in protein crm 45. Toxin fragment A is hydrophilic. Incubation of protein crm 45 or toxin fragment B with preformed liposomes leads to association of these proteins with lipid vesicles. Fragment A does not interact with liposomes. Binding of protein crm 45 with lipid vesicles is dependent on time and temperature. Protein crm 45 is unidirectionally associated with liposomes, its enzymic fragment A directed outside the liposome. Fragment B or protein crm 45, upon binding with liposomes, does not affect the permeability of the vesicles.     

Effect of potassium depletion of cells on their sensitivity to diphtheria toxin and pseudomonas toxin

When Vero cells were depleted of potassium, the cells were protected against diphtheria toxin. Potassium depletion of Vero cells strongly reduced the binding of the toxin to cell surface receptors. Likewise, potassium depleted L-cells were protected against pseudomonas toxin. Diphtheria toxin binding was completely restored upon addition of potassium to the cells. This restoration was not prevented by inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide. When cells were depleted of potassium in the presence of metabolic inhibitors, and then treated with diphtheria toxin, protein synthesis was reduced to the same extent as in cells with normal intracellular level of potassium. The results indicate that potassium depletion of Vero cells reduces the ability of the cells to bind diphtheria toxin by an ATP requiring process, and that binding, endocytosis and transfer of diphtheria fragment A across the membrane may occur at low intracellular levels of potassium.     

Inhibition of movement and ATP-ase activity of demembranated sea urchin spermatozoa by anti-dynein antiserum.

Anti-dynein antiserum was prepared in rabbits against a tryptic fragment (Fragment A) of dynein ATPase. The antiserum inhibited the ATP-induced movement of demembranated sea urchin spermatozoa. The complete inhibition of progressive movement occurred at relatively low concentrations of the antiserum, which affected the ATPase activity to a rather small extent. The anti-dynein antiserum seems to inhibit not only ATPase activity but also bending-wave formation, in some way.     

ADP-ribosyltransferase from beef liver which ADP-ribosylates elongation factor-2

Fragment A of diphtheria toxin and Pseudomonas toxin A intoxicate cells by ADP-ribosylating the diphthamide residue of elongation factor-2 (EF-2) resulting in an inhibition of protein synthesis [1-3]. A cellular enzyme from polyoma virus transformed baby hamster kidney (pyBHK) cells ADP-ribosylates EF-2 in an identical manner [4]. Here we describe a similar cellular enzyme from beef liver which transfers [adenosine-14C]ADP-ribose from NAD to EF-2. The 14C-label can be removed from the EF-2 by snake venom phosphodiesterase as a soluble product which comigrates with AMP on TLC plates, indicating the 14C-label is present on EF-2 as monomeric units of ADP-ribose. Furthermore, the forward transferase reaction catalyzed by the beef liver ADP-ribosyltransferase is reversible by excess diphtheria toxin fragment A, with the formation of 14C-labeled NAD, indicating that both transferases ADP-ribosylate the same site on the diphthamide residue of EF-2. Thus, beef liver and pyBHK mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferases both modify the diphthamide residue of EF-2, in a manner identical to diphtheria toxin fragment A and Pseudomonas toxin A. These results suggest the cellular enzyme is probably ubiquitous among eukaryotic cells.     

Synthesis and in vitro activity of a hormone-diphtheria toxin fragment A hybrid

The synthesis and in vitro biological activity of a hybrid protein composed of intact human chorionic gonadotropin and fragment A of diphtheria toxin in a disulfide conjugate is reported. This hybrid retained greater than 90% of the binding ability of uncoupled hCG and was shown to be specifically toxic to a mouse Leydig cell tumor which binds hCG while being non-toxic towards cells which lack receptors for hCG.     

Effects of equisetin on rat liver mitochondria: Evidence for inhibition of substrate anion carriers of the inner membrane

The effect of equisetin, an antibiotic produced byFusarium equiseti, has been studied on mitochondrial functions (respiration, ATPase, ion transport). Equisetin inhibits the DNP-stimulated ATPase activity of rat liver mitochondria and mitoplasts in a concentration-dependent manner; 50% inhibition is caused by about 8 nmol equisetin/mg protein. The antibiotic is without effect either on the ATPase activity of submitochondrial particles or on the purified F₁-ATPase. It inhibits both the ADP- or DNP-activated oxygen uptake by mitochondria in the presence of glutamate + malate or succinate as substrates, but only the ADP-stimulated respiration is inhibited if the electron donors are TMPD + ascorbate. It does not affect the NADH or succinate oxidation of submitochondrial particles. Equisetin inhibits in a concentration-dependent manner the active Ca²⁺-uptake of mitochondria energized both by ATP or succinate without affecting the Ca²⁺-uniporter itself. The antibiotic inhibits the ATP-uptake by mitochondria (50% inhibition at about 8 nmol equisetin/mg protein) and the P_i and dicarboxylate carrier. It does not lower the membrane potential at least up to 200 nmol/mg protein concentration. The data presented in this paper indicate that equisetin specifically inhibits the substrate anion carriers of the mitochondrial inner membrane.Abbreviations EGTA ethyleneglycol bis/-aminoethylether/-N, N-tetraacetic acid - DNP 2, 4-dinitrophenol - TMPD N,N,N,N,tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine - CCP carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone - TPP tetraphenyl-phosphonium - Hepes /4,(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulfonic acid/     

Activation of aflatoxin B1 by a mono-oxygenase system localized in rat liver mitochondria

Structurally intact rat liver mitoplasts free of detectable microsomal contamination contain enzymatic activity to metabolize aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The activated component(s) bind to mitochondrial macromolecules and also inhibit mitochondrial protein synthesis. The activity of intact mitoplasts or sonicated particles is partly dependent on the addition of NADPH-generating system. Under optimal conditions, the mitochondrial enzyme has specific activity of 60 to 65 pmol/mg and represents about 15 to 18% of total cytoplasmic activity for AFB1 activation. The enzyme is localized in the soluble fraction of mitochondrial matrix and appears to be distinctly different from the microsomal activity.     

Plasmalemma Chloride Transport in Chara corallina: Inhibition by 4,4'-Diisothiocyano-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid Stilbene

Chloride transport, presumably via a Cl⁻-2H⁺ co-transport system, was investigated in Chara corallina. At pH 6.5, the control influx (3.1 picomoles per centimeter² per second) was stimulated 4-fold by an 18-hour Cl⁻ starvation. The stimulated influx was inhibited to 4.7 picomoles per centimeter² per second after a 60-minute pre-exposure to 0.5 millimolar 4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-disulfonic acid stilbene (DIDS). This compares with a nonsignificant inhibition of the control under similar conditions. At 2 millimolar DIDS, both stimulated and control influx were inhibited to values of 1.1 and 2.2 picomoles per centimeter² per second, respectively; in all cases, DIDS inhibition was reversible. Over the pH range 4.8 to 8.5, the control and DIDS-inhibited influx showed only slight pH sensitivity; in contrast, the stimulated flux was strongly pH dependent (pH 6.5 optimum). Inasmuch as changes in pH alter membrane potential, N-ethylmaleimide was used to depolarize the membrane; this had no effect on Cl⁻ influx. A transient depolarization of the membrane (about 20 millivolts) was observed on restoration of Cl⁻ to starved cells. The membrane also depolarized transiently when starved cells were exposed to 0.5 millimolar DIDS, but the depolarization associated with Cl⁻ restoration was inhibited by a 40-minute pretreatment with DIDS. Exposure of control cells to DIDS caused only a small hyperpolarization (about 7 millivolts). DIDS may have blocked Cl⁻ influx by inhibiting the putative plasmalemma H⁺-translocating ATPase. Histochemical studies on intact cells revealed no observable effect of DIDS on plasmalemma ATPase activity. However, DIDS application after fixation resulted in complete inhibition of ATPase activity.

The differential sensitivity of the stimulated and control flux to inhibition by DIDS may reflect an alteration of transport upon stimulation, but could also result from differences in pretreatment. The stimulated cells were pretreated with DIDS in the absence of Cl⁻, in contrast to the presence of Cl⁻ during pretreatment of controls. The differential effect could result from competition between Cl⁻ and DIDS for a common binding site. Our histochemical ATPase results indicate that Cl⁻ transport and membrane ATPase are separate systems, and the latter is only inhibited by DIDS from the inside of the cell.

     

Stimulation of proliferation of a human osteosarcoma cell line by exogenous acidic fibroblast growth factor requires both activation of receptor tyrosine kinase and growth factor internalization.

U2OS Dr1 cells, originating from a human osteosarcoma, are resistant to the intracellular action of diphtheria toxin but contain toxin receptors on their surfaces. These cells do not have detectable amounts of fibroblast growth factor receptors. When these cells were transfected with fibroblast growth factor receptor 4, the addition of acidic fibroblast growth factor to the medium induced tyrosine phosphorylation, DNA synthesis, and cell proliferation. A considerable fraction of the cell-associated growth factor was found in the nuclear fraction. When the growth factor was fused to the diphtheria toxin A fragment, it was still bound to the growth factor receptor and induced tyrosine phosphorylation but did not induce DNA synthesis or cell proliferation, nor was any fusion protein recovered in the nuclear fraction. On the other hand, when the fusion protein was associated with the diphtheria toxin B fragment to allow translocation to the cytosol by the toxin pathway, the fusion protein was targeted to the nucleus and stimulated both DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. In untransfected cells containing toxin receptors but not fibroblast growth factor receptors, the fusion protein was translocated to the cytosol and targeted to the nucleus, but in this case, it stimulated only DNA synthesis. These data indicate that the following two signals are required to stimulate cell proliferation in transfected U2OS Dr1 cells: the tyrosine kinase signal from the activated fibroblast growth factor receptor and translocation of the growth factor into the cell.