Acylated domains (ADs), like that of the Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA), are structures found in all pore-forming toxins from the family of Repeat-in-ToXin (RTX) proteins. These AD segments are fatty-acylated on ε-amino groups of conserved lysine residues, such as the K860 and K983 residues of CyaA. The ε-amide-linked acyl chains are essential for toxin activity and promote irreversible membrane insertion of the CyaA molecule, thus enabling the toxin to translocate its N-terminal adenyl cyclase enzyme domain into the host cell cytoplasm. In parallel, the membrane-inserted CyaA molecules can oligomerize into cation-selective pores in the plasma membrane. Here, we show that the attached acyl chains are not only crucial for membrane insertion of the toxin but also play an important role in CyaA folding. We demonstrate that assembly of the noncanonical β-roll structure in the C-terminal segment of the AD of CyaA is cooperatively directed by the Ca2+-driven folding of the adjacent RTX domain. In contrast, the N-terminal AD segment consists of an α-helical structure that folds independently of Ca2+ ion binding and may form one or two acyl binding site(s) accommodating the acyl chains protruding from the C-terminal AD segment. This acyl-mediated interaction between the N- and C-terminal segments promotes local structural rearrangements within the AD that significantly enhances the stability of the toxin molecule. These findings highlight the critical role of the acyl modification in membrane interaction capacity and structural stability of the CyaA toxin.

• Keywords
• Bordetella pertussis, RTX toxin, acylation, adenylate cyclase toxin, protein folding,
• MeSH
• Acylation MeSH
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin * metabolism   chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Bordetella pertussis * metabolism   enzymology   genetics   MeSH
• Cell Membrane * metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Protein Domains MeSH
• Protein Folding MeSH
• Calcium metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin * MeSH
• Calcium MeSH

The Gram-negative bacterium Kingella kingae is part of the commensal oropharyngeal flora of young children. As detection methods have improved, K. kingae has been increasingly recognized as an emerging invasive pathogen that frequently causes skeletal system infections, bacteremia, and severe forms of infective endocarditis. K. kingae secretes an RtxA cytotoxin, which is involved in the development of clinical infection and belongs to an ever-growing family of cytolytic RTX (Repeats in ToXin) toxins secreted by Gram-negative pathogens. All RTX cytolysins share several characteristic structural features: (i) a hydrophobic pore-forming domain in the N-terminal part of the molecule; (ii) an acylated segment where the activation of the inactive protoxin to the toxin occurs by a co-expressed toxin-activating acyltransferase; (iii) a typical calcium-binding RTX domain in the C-terminal portion of the molecule with the characteristic glycine- and aspartate-rich nonapeptide repeats; and (iv) a C-proximal secretion signal recognized by the type I secretion system. RTX toxins, including RtxA from K. kingae, have been shown to act as highly efficient 'contact weapons' that penetrate and permeabilize host cell membranes and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of bacterial infections. RtxA was discovered relatively recently and the knowledge of its biological role remains limited. This review describes the structure and function of RtxA in the context of the most studied RTX toxins, the knowledge of which may contribute to a better understanding of the action of RtxA in the pathogenesis of K. kingae infections.

• Keywords
• Kingella kingae, RTX toxin, RtxA, membrane, pore-forming, β2 integrins,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Pore-forming repeats in toxins (RTX) are key virulence factors of many Gram-negative pathogens. We have recently shown that the aromatic side chain of the conserved tyrosine residue 940 within the acylated segment of the RTX adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA, ACT or AC-Hly) plays a key role in target cell membrane interaction of the toxin. Therefore, we used a truncated CyaA-derived RTX719 construct to analyze the impact of Y940 substitutions on functional folding of the acylated segment of CyaA. Size exclusion chromatography combined with CD spectroscopy revealed that replacement of the aromatic side chain of Y940 by the side chains of alanine or proline residues disrupted the calcium-dependent folding of RTX719 and led to self-aggregation of the otherwise soluble and monomeric protein. Intriguingly, corresponding alanine substitutions of the conserved Y642, Y643 and Y639 residues in the homologous RtxA, HlyA and ApxIA hemolysins from Kingella kingae, Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, affected the membrane insertion, pore-forming (hemolytic) and cytotoxic capacities of these toxins only marginally. Activities of these toxins were impaired only upon replacement of the conserved tyrosines by proline residues. It appears, hence, that the critical role of the aromatic side chain of the Y940 residue is highly specific for the functional folding of the acylated domain of CyaA and determines its capacity to penetrate target cell membrane.

• MeSH
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin genetics   MeSH
• Bordetella bronchiseptica * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Bordetella pertussis * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Membrane metabolism   MeSH
• Hemolysis MeSH
• Bordetella Infections microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• THP-1 Cells MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin MeSH

The Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA) and the α-hemolysin (HlyA) of Escherichia coli belong to the family of cytolytic pore-forming Repeats in ToXin (RTX) cytotoxins. HlyA preferentially binds the αLβ2 integrin LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) of leukocytes and can promiscuously bind and also permeabilize many other cells. CyaA bears an N-terminal adenylyl cyclase (AC) domain linked to a pore-forming RTX cytolysin (Hly) moiety, binds the complement receptor 3 (CR3, αMβ2, CD11b/CD18, or Mac-1) of myeloid phagocytes, penetrates their plasma membrane, and delivers the AC enzyme into the cytosol. We constructed a set of CyaA/HlyA chimeras and show that the CyaC-acylated segment and the CR3-binding RTX domain of CyaA can be functionally replaced by the HlyC-acylated segment and the much shorter RTX domain of HlyA. Instead of binding CR3, a CyaA1-710/HlyA411-1024 chimera bound the LFA-1 receptor and effectively delivered AC into Jurkat T cells. At high chimera concentrations (25 nm), the interaction with LFA-1 was not required for CyaA1-710/HlyA411-1024 binding to CHO cells. However, interaction with the LFA-1 receptor strongly enhanced the specific capacity of the bound CyaA1-710/HlyA411-1024 chimera to penetrate cells and deliver the AC enzyme into their cytosol. Hence, interaction of the acylated segment and/or the RTX domain of HlyA with LFA-1 promoted a productive membrane interaction of the chimera. These results help delimit residues 400-710 of CyaA as an "AC translocon" sufficient for translocation of the AC polypeptide across the plasma membrane of target cells.

• Keywords
• AC domain translocation, AC translocon, Bordetella pertussis, CyaA, Escherichia coli (E. coli), HlyA, RTX toxin, acylation, acyltransferase, bacterial toxin, complement receptor 3 (CR3,), fatty acid, fatty acyl, integrin, protein acylation, protein translocation,
• MeSH
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin metabolism   MeSH
• Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 metabolism   MeSH
• Bordetella * MeSH
• CHO Cells MeSH
• Cricetulus MeSH
• Cytosol metabolism   MeSH
• Jurkat Cells MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Macrophage-1 Antigen metabolism   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• THP-1 Cells MeSH
• Protein Transport MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin MeSH
• Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 MeSH
• Macrophage-1 Antigen MeSH

Cytolytic leukotoxins of the repeat in toxin (RTX) family are large proteins excreted by gram-negative bacterial pathogens through the type 1 secretion system (T1SS). Due to low yields and poor stability in cultures of the original pathogens, it is useful to purify recombinant fatty-acylated RTX cytolysins from inclusion bodies produced in E. coli. Such preparations are, however, typically contaminated by high amounts of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS or endotoxin). We report a simple procedure for purification of large amounts of biologically active and endotoxin-free RTX toxins. It is based on the common feature of RTX cytolysins that are T1SS-excreted as unfolded polypeptides and fold into a biologically active toxin only upon binding of calcium ions outside of the bacterial cell. Mimicking this process, the RTX proteins are solubilized from inclusion bodies with buffered 8 M urea, bound onto a suitable chromatographic medium under denaturing conditions and the contaminating LPS is removed through extensive on-column washes with buffers containing 6 to 8 M urea and 1% Triton X-100 or Triton X-114. Extensive on-column rinsing with 8 M urea buffer removes residual detergent and the eluted highly active RTX protein preparations then contain only trace amounts of LPS. The procedure is exemplified using four prototypic RTX cytolysins, the Bordetella pertussis CyaA and the hemolysins of Escherichia coli (HlyA), Kingella kingae (RtxA), and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (ApxIA).

• Keywords
• RTX toxins, Triton X-100, Triton X-114, endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide,
• MeSH
• Bacterial Proteins isolation & purification   toxicity   MeSH
• Cytotoxins isolation & purification   toxicity   MeSH
• Detergents chemistry   MeSH
• Erythrocytes drug effects   MeSH
• Escherichia coli metabolism   MeSH
• Hemolysis MeSH
• Hemolysin Proteins isolation & purification   toxicity   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lipopolysaccharides analysis   MeSH
• Urea chemistry   MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Octoxynol chemistry   MeSH
• Sheep MeSH
• THP-1 Cells MeSH
• Cell Survival drug effects   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Bacterial Proteins MeSH
• Cytotoxins MeSH
• Detergents MeSH
• Hemolysin Proteins MeSH
• Lipopolysaccharides MeSH
• Urea MeSH
• Nonidet P-40 MeSH Browser
• Octoxynol MeSH

The adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA, ACT or AC-Hly) of pathogenic Bordetellae delivers its adenylyl cyclase (AC) enzyme domain into the cytosol of host cells and catalyzes uncontrolled conversion of cellular ATP to cAMP. In parallel, the toxin forms small cation-selective pores that permeabilize target cell membrane and account for the hemolytic activity of CyaA on erythrocytes. The pore-forming domain of CyaA is predicted to consist of five transmembrane α-helices, of which the helices I, III, IV and V have previously been characterized. We examined here the α-helix II that is predicted to form between residues 529 to 549. Substitution of the glycine 531 residue by a proline selectively reduced the hemolytic capacity but did not affect the AC translocating activity of the CyaA-G531P toxin. In contrast, CyaA toxins with alanine 538 or 546 replaced by diverse residues were selectively impaired in the capacity to translocate the AC domain across cell membrane but remained fully hemolytic. Such toxins, however, formed pores in planar asolectin bilayer membranes with a very low frequency and with at least two different conducting states. The helix-breaking substitution of alanine 538 by a proline residue abolished the voltage-activated increase of membrane activity of CyaA in asolectin bilayers. These results reveal that the predicted α-helix comprising the residues 529 to 549 plays a key role in CyaA penetration into the target plasma membrane and pore-forming activity of the toxin.

• MeSH
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin chemistry   genetics   toxicity   MeSH
• Bordetella enzymology   MeSH
• Cell Membrane drug effects   MeSH
• Erythrocytes drug effects   MeSH
• Hemolysis MeSH
• Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Sheep MeSH
• Amino Acid Substitution MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin MeSH

Bordetellae, pathogenic to mammals, produce an immunomodulatory adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA, ACT or AC-Hly) that enables them to overcome the innate immune defense of the host. CyaA subverts host phagocytic cells by an orchestrated action of its functional domains, where an extremely catalytically active adenylyl cyclase enzyme is delivered into phagocyte cytosol by a pore-forming repeat-in-toxin (RTX) cytolysin moiety. By targeting sentinel cells expressing the complement receptor 3, known as the CD11b/CD18 (αMβ₂) integrin, CyaA compromises the bactericidal functions of host phagocytes and supports infection of host airways by Bordetellae. Here, we review the state of knowledge on structural and functional aspects of CyaA toxin action, placing particular emphasis on signaling mechanisms by which the toxin-produced 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) subverts the physiology of phagocytic cells.

• Keywords
• Bordetella, CD11b/CD18, adenylate cyclase toxin, cAMP, cell signaling, complement receptor 3, innate immunity, membrane pores, repeats-in-toxin, β2 integrins,
• MeSH
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin chemistry   MeSH
• Macrophages, Alveolar cytology   MeSH
• Cyclic AMP chemistry   MeSH
• Bordetella pertussis MeSH
• Dendritic Cells cytology   MeSH
• Phagocytes chemistry   MeSH
• Syk Kinase MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Macrophage-1 Antigen MeSH
• Neutrophils cytology   MeSH
• Protein Domains MeSH
• Signal Transduction * MeSH
• Protein Structure, Tertiary MeSH
• Structure-Activity Relationship MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin MeSH
• Cyclic AMP MeSH
• Syk Kinase MeSH
• Macrophage-1 Antigen MeSH
• SYK protein, human MeSH Browser

The adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA, ACT or AC-Hly) translocates its adenylate cyclase (AC) enzyme domain into target cells in a step that depends on membrane cholesterol content. We thus examined what role in toxin activities is played by the five putative cholesterol recognition amino acid consensus (CRAC) motifs predicted in CyaA hemolysin moiety. CRAC-disrupting phenylalanine substitutions had no impact on toxin activities and these were not inhibited by free cholesterol, showing that the putative CRAC motifs are not involved in cholesterol binding. However, helix-breaking proline substitutions in these segments uncovered a structural role of the Y632, Y658, Y725 and Y738 residues in AC domain delivery and pore formation by CyaA. Substitutions of Y940 of the fifth motif, conserved in the acylated domains of related RTX toxins, did not impact on fatty-acylation of CyaA by CyaC and the CyaA-Y940F mutant was intact for toxin activities on erythrocytes and myeloid cells. However, the Y940A or Y940P substitutions disrupted the capacity of CyaA to insert into artificial lipid bilayers or target cell membranes. The aromatic ring of tyrosine 940 side chain thus appears to play a key structural role in molecular interactions that initiate CyaA penetration into target membranes.

• MeSH
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Amino Acid Motifs MeSH
• Cell Membrane metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Line MeSH
• Cholesterol metabolism   MeSH
• Erythrocytes metabolism   MeSH
• Macrophages metabolism   MeSH
• DNA Mutational Analysis MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Amino Acid Substitution MeSH
• Protein Transport MeSH
• Tyrosine genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin MeSH
• Cholesterol MeSH
• Tyrosine MeSH

The whooping cough agent, Bordetella pertussis, secretes an adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin (CyaA) that plays a crucial role in host respiratory tract colonization. CyaA targets CR3-expressing cells and disrupts their bactericidal functions by delivering into their cytosol an adenylate cyclase enzyme that converts intracellular ATP to cAMP. In parallel, the hydrophobic domain of CyaA forms cation-selective pores that permeabilize cell membrane. The invasive AC and pore-forming domains of CyaA are linked by a segment that is unique in the RTX cytolysin family. We used mass spectrometry and circular dichroism to show that the linker segment forms α-helical structures that penetrate into lipid bilayer. Replacement of the positively charged arginine residues, proposed to be involved in target membrane destabilization by the linker segment, reduced the capacity of the toxin to translocate the AC domain across cell membrane. Substitutions of negatively charged residues then revealed that two clusters of negative charges within the linker segment control the size and the propensity of CyaA pore formation, thereby restricting the cell-permeabilizing capacity of CyaA. The 'AC to Hly-linking segment' thus appears to account for the smaller size and modest cell-permeabilizing capacity of CyaA pores, as compared to typical RTX hemolysins.

• MeSH
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Adenylyl Cyclases chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Cyclic AMP metabolism   MeSH
• Bordetella pertussis chemistry   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Hemolysin Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lipid Bilayers chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Perforin chemistry   MeSH
• Cell Membrane Permeability drug effects   MeSH
• Whooping Cough genetics   microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenylate Cyclase Toxin MeSH
• Adenylyl Cyclases MeSH
• Cyclic AMP MeSH
• Hemolysin Proteins MeSH
• Lipid Bilayers MeSH
• Perforin MeSH

The advantages offered by established antibiotics in the treatment of infectious diseases are endangered due to the increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. This leads to a need for new antibacterial compounds. Recently, we discovered a series of compounds termed lipophosphonoxins (LPPOs) that exhibit selective cytotoxicity towards Gram-positive bacteria that include pathogens and resistant strains. For further development of these compounds, it was necessary to identify the mechanism of their action and characterize their interaction with eukaryotic cells/organisms in more detail. Here, we show that at their bactericidal concentrations LPPOs localize to the plasmatic membrane in bacteria but not in eukaryotes. In an in vitro system we demonstrate that LPPOs create pores in the membrane. This provides an explanation of their action in vivo where they cause serious damage of the cellular membrane, efflux of the cytosol, and cell disintegration. Further, we show that (i) LPPOs are not genotoxic as determined by the Ames test, (ii) do not cross a monolayer of Caco-2 cells, suggesting they are unable of transepithelial transport, (iii) are well tolerated by living mice when administered orally but not peritoneally, and (iv) are stable at low pH, indicating they could survive the acidic environment in the stomach. Finally, using one of the most potent LPPOs, we attempted and failed to select resistant strains against this compound while we were able to readily select resistant strains against a known antibiotic, rifampicin. In summary, LPPOs represent a new class of compounds with a potential for development as antibacterial agents for topical applications and perhaps also for treatment of gastrointestinal infections.

• MeSH
• Biological Transport, Active MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents chemistry   pharmacokinetics   pharmacology   MeSH
• Bacillus subtilis drug effects   growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Membrane drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Caco-2 Cells MeSH
• Enterococcus faecalis drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Gram-Positive Bacteria drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Molecular Structure MeSH
• Mice, Inbred ICR MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Drug Discovery MeSH
• Cell Membrane Permeability drug effects   MeSH
• Pyrimidine Nucleosides chemistry   pharmacokinetics   pharmacology   MeSH
• Drug Stability MeSH
• Streptococcus agalactiae drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Transmission MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• Pyrimidine Nucleosides MeSH