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.     

Kre1p, the plasma membrane receptor for the yeast K1 viral toxin

Saccharomyces cerevisiae K1 killer strains are infected by the M1 double-stranded RNA virus encoding a secreted protein toxin that kills sensitive cells by disrupting cytoplasmic membrane function. Toxin binding to spheroplasts is mediated by Kre1p, a cell wall protein initially attached to the plasma membrane by its C-terminal GPI anchor. Kre1p binds toxin directly. Both cells and spheroplasts of Deltakre1 mutants are completely toxin resistant; binding to cell walls and spheroplasts is reduced to 10% and < 0.5%, respectively. Expression of K28-Kre1p, an inactive C-terminal fragment of Kre1p retaining its toxin affinity and membrane anchor, fully restored toxin binding and sensitivity to spheroplasts, while intact cells remained resistant. Kre1p is apparently the toxin membrane receptor required for subsequent lethal ion channel formation.     

Diphtheria toxin mutant CRM197 possesses weak EF2-ADP-ribosyl activity that potentiates its anti-tumorigenic activity

CRM197, a mutated diphtheria toxin (DT), has long been recognized to be a non-toxic protein. Based on its non-toxic feature, this protein has been utilized for various purposes, including as an inhibitor of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and as an immunological adjuvant for vaccination. Here we show evidence that CRM197 has a weak toxicity. This toxicity was observed in cells over-expressing the DT receptor/proHB-EGF, but not in parental cells, indicating that the toxicity was mediated through DT receptor. CRM197 did not show any toxicity toward DT-resistant cells, which have a mutation in elongation factor 2, and a cell-free assay revealed the existence of weak EF-2-ADP ribosylation activity in fragment A of CRM197. Thus, the present study indicates a requirement for specific care in the use of CRM197 at a high dosage, although the toxicity of CRM197 is about 10(6) times less than that of wild-type DT. We found that a monoclonal antibody to DT inhibited CRM197 toxicity, but did not affect the inhibitory activity of CRM197 toward HB-EGF-induced mitogenic activity. CRM197 strongly inhibits tumour growth in nude mice. The anti-DT monoclonal antibody administered with CRM197 reduced the anti- tumourigenic effect of CRM197, indicating that the toxicity of CRM197 potentiates its anti- tumourigenic effect.     

Role of the Cytoplasmic Membrane in the Synthesis of Ribonucleic Acid by Disrupted Spheroplasts of Pseudomonas schuylkilliensis

Disrupted spheroplast preparations of Pseudomonas schuylkilliensis strain P contained fragments of cytoplasmic membrane and approximately 82% of the total cellular phospholipid. The protoplast-bursting factor (PB-factor), partially purified from pig pancreas, and a heat-treated pancreatic lipase fraction both inhibited ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis by disrupted spheroplasts but did not inhibit or only slightly inhibited RNA synthesis by intact cells or intact spheroplasts. The PB-factor preparation and the heat-treated pancreatic lipase fraction catalyzed partial (15 to 50%) deacylation of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine in disrupted spheroplasts but not in intact spheroplasts. Phospholipase A activity was demonstrated in the PB-factor preparation by use of isolated phospholipids as substrates. Treatment of disrupted spheroplasts with the PB-factor preparation caused a 70% inhibition in oxidative phosphorylation and RNA synthesis, but had little effect on electron transport. Addition of adenosine-5'-triphosphate or adenosine-5'-diphosphate and a mixture of ribonucleosides after treatment with the PB-factor preparation partially restored oxidative phosphorylation but did not relieve the inhibition in RNA synthesis. The most reasonable explanation for the latter observation appears to be that the concentrations of newly synthesized nucleotides retained by the preparations with partially deacylated membrane phospholipids were insufficient to permit the synthesis of RNA.     

Diphtheria toxin- and Pseudomonas A toxin-mediated apoptosis. ADP ribosylation of elongation factor-2 is required for DNA fragmentation and cell lysis and synergy with tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

We have reported that diphtheria toxin (DTX) mediates target cell lysis and intranucleosomal DNA fragmentation (apoptosis) and also synergizes with TNF-alpha. In this paper, we examined which step in the pathway of DTX-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis was important for induction of cytolytic activity and for synergy. Using a DTX-sensitive tumor cell line, we first examined the activity of the mutant CRM 197, which does not catalyze the ADP ribosylation of elongation factor-2 (EF-2). CRM 197 was not cytolytic for target cells and did not mediate intranucleosomal DNA fragmentation of viable cells. The failure of CRM 197 to mediate target cell lysis suggested that the catalytic activity of DTX is prerequisite for target cell lysis. This was corroborated by demonstrating that MeSAdo, which blocks the biosynthesis of diphthamide, inhibited DTX-mediated protein synthesis inhibition and also blocked target cell lysis. Furthermore, the addition of nicotinamide, which competes with NAD+ on the DTX action site of EF-2, also blocked DTX-mediated lysis. These findings suggest that ADP-ribosylation of EF-2 may be a necessary step in the pathway leading to target cell lysis. In contrast to the sensitive line, the SKOV-3 tumor cell line is sensitive to protein synthesis inhibition by DTX but is not susceptible to cytolysis and apoptosis by DTX. Thus, protein synthesis inhibition by DTX is not sufficient to mediate target cell lysis. The synergy in cytotoxicity obtained with the combination of DTX and TNF-alpha was examined in order to determine the pathway mediated by DTX in synergy. Like the direct lysis by DTX, synergy was significantly reduced by MeSAdo and by nicotinamide. Furthermore, synergy was not observed with combination of CRM 197 and TNF-alpha. These results demonstrate that, in synergy, DTX may utilize the same pathway required for its cytolytic activity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin shared most the properties shown for DTX. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that DTX-mediated apoptosis is initiated at a step beyond the ADP ribosylation of EF-2.     

分子伴侣对白喉毒素无毒突变体CRM197重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中可溶性表达的促进作用

为了获得有活性的白喉毒素突变体蛋白 (Cross-reacting material 197,CRM197),本研究利用分子伴侣pG-KJE8与重组质粒pET28a-CRM197在大肠杆菌原核表达系统中进行共表达,来促进目的蛋白的正确折叠,进而提高CRM197蛋白的可溶性表达。将质粒转化至大肠杆菌后并诱导其表达目的蛋白,再通过SDS-PAGE胶染色、Western blotting等技术对所得蛋白进行检测分析。结果发现：利用体外重组技术成功得到了pET28a-CRM197重组蛋白原核表达质粒,且CRM197重组蛋白在原核表达系统中主要以包涵体形式表达;通过探索和优化,确定了诱导蛋白的最佳浓度和温度,当加入终浓度为1.0 mmol/L IPTG、0.5 mg/mL L-阿拉伯糖、5.0 ng/mL四环素,在20 ℃条件下诱导16 h时,目的蛋白的可溶性表达得到显著提高;可溶性表达的CRM197重组蛋白可以与CRM197一抗发生特异性结合,免疫反应性良好。因此,研究发现分子伴侣pG-KJE8可以促进CRM197重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中以可溶性形式表达,且能很好地与CRM197一抗发生特异性结合,证实CRM197重组蛋白具有良好的免疫反应性,为CRM197蛋白的工业化生产及应用奠定了一定的基础。     

The K1 Toxin of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kills Spheroplasts of Many Yeast Species

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae K1 toxin killed spheroplasts from the genera Candida, Kluyveromyces, and Schwanniomyces. Cells of these organisms were toxin insensitive. The toxin bound poorly to Kluyveromyces lactis cells. In contrast, Candida albicans bound the toxin to an extent similar to that seen with S. cerevisiae. Thus, wall receptors can define toxin specificity and are necessary but not sufficient for toxin action on intact cells.     

Enhancement of diphtheria toxin-induced apoptosis in Vero cells by combination treatment with brefeldin A and okadaic acid

In the present study, we compared the abilities of ricin and diphtheria toxin to induce apoptosis in Vero cells. The cytolysis and DNA fragmentation by ricin paralleled its protein synthesis inhibitory activity. However, unlike ricin, diphtheria toxin could induce neither cytolysis nor DNA fragmentation in Vero cells up to very high concentration, in spite of the fact that Vero cells were even more sensitive to protein synthesis inhibition by diphtheria toxin than ricin. Interestingly, coexistence of brefeldin A (BFA) and okadaic acid (OA) significantly enhanced diphtheria toxin-mediated cytolysis and DNA fragmentation without affecting the activity of protein synthesis inhibition. Ammonium chloride almost completely abolished the ability of diphtheria toxin to induce apoptosis in the presence of BFA and OA as well as the protein synthesis inhibitory activity. The mutant CRM 197, which does not catalyze the ADP ribosylation of elongation factor-2 (EF-2), failed to induce apoptosis in Vero cells even in the presence of BFA and OA. Thus, translocation of diphtheria toxin into the cytosol and subsequent enzymatic inactivation of EF-2 may be necessary steps to induce apoptosis. Taken together our results suggest that protein synthesis inhibition by toxins is not sufficient to induce apoptosis, and underlying mechanisms of apoptosis induction may be distinct between ricin and diphtheria toxin. Since a morphological change in the Golgi complex was observed in Vero cells treated with BFA and OA, modulation of the Golgi complex by these reagents may be partly responsible for enhanced apoptosis induction by diphtheria toxin.     

Macromolecule synthesis in yeast spheroplasts

Conditions have been established for the preparation of spheroplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which are able to increase their net content of protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), several-fold upon incubation in a medium stabilized with 1 m sorbitol. The rate of RNA and protein synthesis in the spheroplasts is nearly the same as that occurring in whole cells incubated under the same conditions; DNA synthesis occurs at about half the whole cell rate. The spheroplasts synthesize transfer RNA and ribosomal RNA. The newly synthesized ribosomal RNA is incorporated into ribosomes and polysomes. The polysomes are the site of protein synthesis in these spheroplasts. Greater than 90% of the total RNA can be solubilized by treatment of the spheroplasts with sodium dodecyl sulfate or sodium deoxycholate. These spheroplast preparations appear to be a useful subject for the study of RNA metabolism in yeast.     

Identification of diphtheria toxin receptor and a nonproteinous diphtheria toxin-binding molecule in Vero cell membrane

Two substances possessing the ability to bind to diphtheria toxin (DT) were found to be present in a membrane fraction from DT-sensitive Vero cells. One of these substances was found on the basis of its ability to bind DT and inhibit its cytotoxic effect. This inhibitory substance competitively inhibited the binding of DT to Vero cells. However this inhibitor could not bind to CRM197, the product of a missense mutation in the DT gene, and did not inhibit the binding of CRM197 to Vero cells. Moreover, similar levels of the inhibitory activity were observed in membrane fractions from DT-insensitive mouse cells, suggesting the inhibitor is not the DT receptor which is specifically present in DT-sensitive cells. The second DT-binding substance was found in the same Vero cell membrane preparation by assaying the binding of 125I-labeled CRM197. Such DT-binding activity could not be observed in membrane preparation from mouse L cells. From competition studies using labeled DT and CRM proteins, we conclude that this binding activity is due to the surface receptor for DT. Treatment of these substances with several enzymes revealed that the inhibitor was sensitive to certain RNases but resistant to proteases, whereas the DT receptor was resistant to RNase but sensitive to proteases. The receptor was solubilized and partially purified by chromatography on CM-Sepharose column. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting analysis of the partially purified receptor revealed that a 14.5-kD protein is the DT receptor, or at least a component of it.     

Quantitative analysis of protein synthesis inhibition and recovery in CRM107 immunotoxin-treated HeLa cells

Previously a mathematical model was proposed that quantitatively related protein synthesis inhibition kinetics of antitransferrin receptor-gelonin immunotoxins to the cellular trafficking of the targeting agent. That work is here extended to describe protein synthesis inhibition kinetics of immunotoxins containing the diphtheria toxin mutant CRM107. CRM107 differs from gelonin in both translocation and ribosomal inactivation mechanisms. Targeting agents used were antitransferrin monoclonal antibodies 5E9 and OKT9, OKT9Fab, and transferrin. CRM107 conjugates inhibited protein synthesis at substantially lower concentrations than gelonin conjugates; this effect was attributed to substantially higher translocation rates for CRM107. However, under certain conditions, CRM107 immunotoxin-treated cells were able to recover completely; this behavior was never observed with gelonin immunotoxins. To quantitatively capture this phenomenon, extracellular and cytosolic degradation of the toxin as well as growth-related recovery from toxin-induced damage were incorporated into the mathematical model. Translocation and cytosolic degradation rate constants were determined for each immunotoxin. Unlike the gelonin conjugates, the translocation rate of CRM107 conjugates depended on the targeting molecule. This provided indirect evidence that CRM107 remains disulfide linked to the targeting agent for at least part of the translocation process. Although the CRM107 conjugates all had higher translocation rates and inhibited protein synthesis at lower concentrations than the gelonin conjugates, the cells' ability to recover from protein synthesis inhibition at low immunotoxin concentrations limits the utility of CRM107 conjugates for targeted cell killing.     

A point mutation of proline 308 in diphtheria toxin B chain inhibits membrane translocation of toxin conjugates

Diphtheria toxin (DT) is a soluble protein that translocates across hydrophobic lipid bilayers in response to low pH. The translocation activity of DT has been localized to the 40-kDa toxin B chain and can be expressed independently of the C-terminal receptor binding site. Buried hydrophobic domains in DT are thought to participate in the membrane translocation process. We have identified a mutant form of DT, CRM 102, that has a point mutation at position 308 (Pro----Ser) within one of these hydrophobic domains. CRM 102 conjugated to a monoclonal antibody against the T cell receptor, the transferrin receptor, or transferrin itself is approximately 10-fold less toxic than native DT or a control DT mutant, CRM 103, linked to the same binding moieties. Direct measurement of membrane translocation activity by exposure of cells to low extracellular pH demonstrates that CRM 102 conjugates express only 10% of the translocation activity of the control toxin conjugates. However, when CRM 102 or 102 conjugates bind and kill cells via the DT receptor, no reduction in membrane translocation activity is observed. The defect in CRM 102 is not evident in the presence of 20 mM NH4Cl. The defect in translocation also has no effect on the ratio of the lag time before protein synthesis inhibition begins to the rate of protein synthesis inhibition. Thus, the proline-serine substitution at position 308 disrupts the membrane translocation process and distinguishes between two routes of DT entry: DT receptor-mediated entry and entry mediated by alternate receptors.     

Single mutation in the A domain of diphtheria toxin results in a protein with altered membrane insertion behavior

The insertion of the A domain of diphtheria toxin into model membranes has been shown to be both pH- and temperature-dependent (Hu and Holmes (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12226-12233). In this report, the insertion behavior of two mutant proteins of diphtheria toxin, CRM197 and CRM9, was studied and compared to that of wild-type toxin. Results indicated that both CRM197 and CRM9 resembled toxin with respect to the pH-dependence of binding to negatively-charged liposomes at room temperature. However, CRM197 differed from toxin with respect to both the pH- and temperature-dependence of fragment A insertion; fragment A197 inserts more readily into the bilayer at 0 degrees C and low pH or at neutral pH and room temperature than does wild type fragment A under these same conditions. This result indicates that the single amino acid substitution in the A domain of CRM197 facilitates entry of fragment A197 into the membrane, suggesting that CRM197 may be conformationally distinct from native toxin. In fact, the fluorescence spectra of CRM197 and wild-type toxin as well as their respective tryptic peptide patterns indicate that, at pH 7, CRM197 more closely resembles the acid form of wild-type toxin than the native form of toxin. These data suggest that CRM197 may be naturally in a more 'insertion-competent' conformation. In contrast, the mutation in the B domain of CRM9 which results in a 1000-fold decrease in binding affinity for plasma membrane receptors apparently does not cause a change in either the insertion of fragment A9 or the lipid-binding properties of CRM9 relative to toxin.     

Synthesis of Protein and Nucleic Acid by Disrupted Spheroplasts of Pseudomonas schuylkilliensis

Osmotically shocked spheroplasts obtained from Pseudomonas schuylkilliensis strain P contained about 54, 32, 28, and 82% of the total cellular protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and phospholipid, respectively. This preparation was capable of incorporating (32)P-orthophosphate into RNA and DNA, (3)H-adenosine or (3)H-uridine into RNA, and (3)H-leucine or (14)C-phenylalanine into protein. These activities were not found in the cytoplasmic fraction which contained most of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. The synthesis of RNA by intact and disrupted spheroplast preparations was sensitive to actinomycin D, chromomycin A(3), streptovaricin, rifampin, Lubrol W, Triton X-100, and sodium deoxycholate, whereas RNA synthesis by intact cells was insensitive to these agents. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, porcine pancreatic lipase, the protoplast-bursting factor, high concentrations of salts, and washing the preparation inhibited the synthesis of RNA by disrupted spheroplasts but had little or no effect on intact spheroplasts. Most of the newly synthesized RNA made by disrupted spheroplasts had the characteristics of messenger RNA. The DNA present in this preparation functioned as a template for RNA synthesis; continued protein synthesis was dependent on concomitant RNA synthesis. An unusual feature of the preparation was the finding that the synthesis of macromolecules was completely dependent on oxidative phosphorylation.     

Cell cycle inhibition of yeast spheroplasts

Summary Osmotically stabilized yeast spheroplasts are capable of extensive DNA synthesis. Although the rate of DNA synthesis in spheroplasts is approximately one-third that of intact cells, the relative amounts of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA synthesized by spheroplasts is very similar to the relative amounts synthesized by intact cells. Furthermore, nuclear but not mitochondrial DNA synthesis is inhibited in MATa spheroplasts by the application of the yeast mating pheromone, -factor. Similarly, DNA synthesis is reversibly temperature-sensitive in spheroplasts created from cdc7 and cdc8 mutant cells.     

Entry of diphtheria toxin into cells: possible existence of cellular factor(s) for entry of diphtheria toxin into cells was studied in somatic cell hybrids and hybrid toxins

Ehrlich ascites tumor cells were found to be very insensitive to diphtheria toxin. We formed 37 hybrids from Ehrlich tumor cells and diphtheria toxin-sensitive human fibroblasts. The effects of diphtheria toxin on protein synthesis in those hybrids were examined. The hybrids were divided into three groups on the basis of toxin sensitivity. Group A hybrids were as sensitive to diphtheria toxin as human fibroblasts, Group C were as resistant as Ehrlich tumor cells, and Group B had intermediate sensitivity. Group A hybrids had diphtheria toxin-binding sites but Group B and C had no detectable binding sites. Elongation factor-2 of all the hybrids was susceptible to ADP-ribosylation by fragment A of diphtheria toxin. Cells of Group A and B became more sensitive to CRM 45 (cross-reacting material 45 of diphtheria toxin) after they were exposed to low pH (pH = 4.5). The resistance of Group C to CRM 45 was not affected by the same treatment. Group A and B hybrids and human fibroblasts had similar sensitivities to a hybrid toxin composed of wheat germ agglutinin and fragment A of diphtheria toxin, but Group C and Ehrlich tumor cells were resistant to this hybrid toxin. All the hybrids and Ehrlich tumor cells were more sensitive to a hybrid toxin composed of wheat germ agglutinin and subunit A of ricin than were human fibroblasts. On subcloning of Group B hybrids, one Group C hybrid was obtained, but no Group A hybrid. These facts suggest that Ehrlich ascites tumor cells differ from human fibroblasts in the expression of a factor(s) that is involved in entry of fragment A of diphtheria toxin into the cytoplasm after the toxin binds to its surface receptors.     

High-level expression of a proteolytically sensitive diphtheria toxin fragment in Escherichia coli.

ABM508 is a recombinant fusion protein consisting of the N-terminal 485 amino acids of diphtheria toxin joined to alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. When expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the tox promoter and signal sequence, ABM508 is severely degraded. When overexpressed from a thermoinducible lambda pR promoter fusion, ABM508 is largely insoluble. We compared the expression of ABM508 (501 amino acids) to a full-length mutant form of the toxin (CRM197; 535 amino acids) and found that CRM197 showed minimal proteolysis. Thus, the removal of the C-terminal 50 amino acids of the toxin destabilizes the protein, making it a target for proteases. Proteolysis of ABM508 could be reduced by removal of the tox signal sequence (thereby directing the protein to the cytoplasm) and growth in lon and htpR mutant strains of E. coli. We also showed that the solubility of tox gene products expressed in E. coli was directly related to the growth temperature of the culture. Thus, a fragment A fusion protein (223 amino acids), ABM508, and CRM197 were found in soluble extracts when expressed at 30 degrees C but could not be released by the same procedures after growth at 42 degrees C. On the basis of these observations, we fused the coding sequences for mature ABM508 to the trc promoter (inducible at 30 degrees C by isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside) and expressed this construct in a lon htpR strain of E. coli. This plasmid made 10 mg of soluble tox protein per liter of culture (7.7% of the total cell protein) or 14 times more than our previous maximal level. Extracts from lon htpR cells harboring this plasmid had high levels of ADP-ribosyltransferase activity, and although proteolysis still occurred, the major tox product corresponded to full-length ABM508.     

Effects of chloramphenicol isomers and erythromycin on enzyme and lipid synthesis induced by oxygen in wild-type and petite yeast

The synthesis of mitochondrial enzymes induced by exposure of anaerobically grown, lipid-depleted Saccharomyces cerevisiae to oxygen is inhibited by d(-)-threo-chloramphenicol and erythromycin. The concentration of these antibiotics required to cause 50% inhibition of this synthesis is less than 1 mm; this is also approximately the concentration required to inhibit by the same amount mitochondrial protein synthesis in situ. The synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, ergosterol, and phospholipid induced by aeration is inhibited by d(-)-threo-chloramphenicol at high concentrations (12 mm) but is unaffected by erythromycin. l(+)-threo-Chloramphenicol affects neither enzyme nor lipid synthesis and is without effect on mitochondrial protein synthesis in situ. All three compounds inhibit the oxidative activity of isolated mitochondria; the chloramphenicol isomers also inhibit phosphorylation. In a euflavine-derived petite mutant, lacking mitochondrial protein synthesis and respiration, aeration results in the normal development of lipid in the cells, but no synthesis of mitochondrial enzymes. d(-)-threo-Chloramphenicol does not inhibit lipid synthesis in these cells. Thus inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis with erythromycin or genetic deletion of mitochondrial protein synthesis results in loss of the capacity to synthesize enzymes during aeration. d(-)-threo-Chloramphenicol, as well as inhibiting induced enzyme formation, inhibits lipid synthesis induced by oxygen. It is unlikely that the latter effect of chloramphenicol is due to inhibition of energy production and transformation, to direct effects on lipid synthesis, or to an inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis. It is, however, an effect not shared with the l isomer.     

Comparison of protein synthesis inhibition kinetics and cell killing induced by immunotoxins

Immunotoxins comprised of a monoclonal antibody covalently coupled to recombinant ricin A chain or to a binding-defective form of diphtheria toxin were compared with respect to their rates of protein synthesis inhibition and efficiencies of killing target cells. Protein synthesis inhibition rates were established by measuring the incorporation of L-[14C]leucine in toxin-treated cells relative to untreated cells at several times after exposure of cells to an immunotoxin. Cell killing was assessed by a limiting dilution assay which measures the number of cells surviving toxin treatment relative to untreated cells. At equivalent protein concentrations, the diphtheria toxin immunotoxin inhibited protein synthesis significantly more rapidly than the ricin A immunotoxin but, contrary to previous predictions, achieved a significantly lower cell kill. Thus, the kinetics of protein synthesis inactivation do not necessarily correlate with killing efficiencies. Possible explanations for these results are that the effect of the diphtheria toxin immunotoxin on protein synthesis is partially reversible or that the diphtheria toxin immunotoxin enters the cytosol at a faster rate than the ricin A immunotoxin but also is degraded at a faster rate.