The protein I found for this entry is the Anthrax toxin. Its PDB identifier is 1ACC, and it is produced by gram-negative Bacillus anthracis bacterium. The toxin is stored in spores which is released when the spores are disturbed or agitated in some way. It is made up of three proteins including a Protective Antigen (PA), an Edema Factor (EF), and a Lethal Factor (LF) . The PA is what delivers the toxin to cells that are being targeted. Additionally, it is broken into four domains containing 735 residues. Each of the domains is responsible for a specific characteristic task with respect to the mechanism of delivering the toxin into the targeted cells.
Because of the fairly rapid delivery of toxins due to the architecture of the protein, it is considered a primary threat as it can be used in the production in a biological weapons system.
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| Anthrax Protecttive Antigen - Biological Assembly Retrieved from http://www.pdb.org under Fair Use guidelines |
References:
Froude, J., Thullier, P., & Thibaut, P. (2011). Antibodies Against Anthrax: Mechanism and Clinical Applications. Toxins, 3, 1433-1452. doi:10.3390/toxins3111433
Helgason, E., Okstad, O.A., Caugant, D., Johansen, H.A., Fouet, A., Mock, M., Hegna, I., & Kolsto, A. (2000). Bacillus antrhacis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus thuringiensis - One Species on the Basis of Genetic Evidence. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 66(6):2627. doi:10.1128/AEM.66.6.2627-2630.2000.
It is quite disturbing that it is such a prevalent and everyday bacterium, but has such a strong toxin involved. The spores can be found in soil samples all over the world! One can hope that with the possibility of biological warfare with the toxin, we could also develop and standardized immunity following exposure.
ReplyDeleteProbably the most terrifying aspect of the availability of Anthrax is the local one. The Arms mill, which no longer exists, was the site of an Anthrax outbreak in 1957. Four people died. The mill building was destroyed 12 years later. Location of the building? The UNHM parking lot...
ReplyDeleteGreat protein pick, Walt! Given our new-found knowledge of the structure of proteins, different subunits, folding structure and binding sites, bacterial toxins are a fascinating consideration and example of how the specific structures of a protein can carry out it's functions. Perhaps if we were to find a way to neutralize (or change the structure of) the PA portion of the Anthrax toxin we could stop it's action on targeted cells in the human body and take this potential biological weapon right out of the picture! I've always found these bacterial toxins fascinating to study- in Microbiology I learned that the toxin in Clostridium botulinum that causes Botulism is what is used in Botox! Isn't that crazy that people willingly inject this disease-causing neurotoxin (albeit very small amounts) into their skin? I wonder if a part of the structure of this protein is altered in some way before it is administered!?
ReplyDeleteActually, there is a therapeutic use for Botox: treatment of migraine headaches. I know this because up until about 3 years ago my wife had terrible migraines. The physiatrist she (and I, for that matter) both see recommended that treatment for her. It consisted of injecting Botox into trigger points, actually paralyzing the tissue surrounding the trigger point itself. They had great effect; she could go 6-9 months between treatments without a headache. The problem we ran into was that it wasn't covered by health insurance. And it the end it was a moot point anyway; the migraines were hormonaly driven.
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