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The human cancer cell active toxin Cry41Aa from Bacillus thuringiensis acts like its insecticidal counterparts

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posted on 2023-06-09, 05:40 authored by Vidisha Krishnan, Barbara Domanska, Alicia Elhigazi, Fatai Afolabi, Michelle WestMichelle West, Neil CrickmoreNeil Crickmore
Understanding how certain protein toxins from the normally insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) target human cell lines has implications for both the risk assessment of products containing these toxins and potentially for cancer therapy. This understanding requires knowledge of whether the human cell active toxins work by the same mechanism as their insecticidal counterparts or by alternative ones. The Bt Cry41Aa (also known as Parasporin3) toxin is structurally related to the toxins synthesised by commercially produced transgenic insect-resistant plants, with the notable exception of an additional C-terminal ß-trefoil ricin domain. To better understand its mechanism of action, we developed an efficient expression system for the toxin and created mutations in regions potentially involved in the toxic mechanism. Deletion of the ricin domain did not significantly affect the activity of the toxin against the human HepG2 cell line, suggesting that this region was not responsible for the mammalian specificity of Cry41Aa. Various biochemical assays suggested that unlike some other human cell active toxins from Bt Cry41Aa did not induce apoptosis, but that its mechanism of action was consistent with that of a pore-forming toxin. The toxin induced a rapid and significant decrease in metabolic activity. Adenosine triphosphate depletion, cell swelling and membrane damage were also observed. An exposed loop region believed to be involved in receptor binding of insecticidal Cry toxins was shown to be important for the activity of Cry41Aa against HepG2 cells.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Biochemical Journal

ISSN

0264-6021

Publisher

Portland Press

Issue

10

Volume

474

Page range

1591-1602

Department affiliated with

  • Biochemistry Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-04-07

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-04-30

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-04-07

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