The Multifunctional-Autoprocessing RTX toxins of Vibrios
Karla J. F. Satchell and Brett Geissler
from: Microbial Toxins: Current Research and Future Trends (Edited by: Thomas Proft). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2009)
Abstract
Multifunctional-Autoprocessing RTX toxins are a unique family of secreted proteins toxins, predominantly produced by the Vibrio sp. The best characterized of these toxins is produced by V. cholerae, for which aspects of the regulation, secretion, and mechanism of toxicity have been defined. Within the eukaryotic cell, this toxin has three distinct biochemical activities resulting in autoprocessing, covalent crosslinking of actin, and inactivation of Rho-family GTPases, ultimately resulting in destruction of the actin cytoskeleton. Related toxins produced by V. vulnificus and V. anguillarum have also been characterized and found to have some similar, but also distinct mechanisms of action. For each Vibrio sp., the toxins have been linked to virulence and it is possible that these toxins function to assist the bacterium to evade host immune defenses in some cases read more ...