Anthrax Lethal protease: PMAP

http://www.proteolysis.org
Anthrax toxin refers to three proteins secreted by virulent strains of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. These three proteins act together in a synergistic way in which they are endocytosed and translocated into the cytoplasm of a macrophage, where it disrupts cellular signaling and induces cell death, allowing the bacteria to evade the immune system.

The disease known as anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming bacterium whose pathogenesis is primarily the result of a tripartite toxin. This toxin is composed of three proteins: the protective antigen (PA), the edema factor (EF) and the lethal factor (LF). These proteins work together to enter a cell and disrupt the signaling pathways, eventually leading to apoptosis. The molecular actions of PA, EF, and LF also provide a model biochemical system that demonstrates a variety of structure-function relationships seen in biochemistry.

LF acts as a Zn2+-dependent endoprotease that snips off the N-terminus of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MAPKK).

Design & production: Kosi Gramatikoff, PhD; client: Robert Liddington, PhD

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Anthrax
• toxin
• biochemistry
• bacterium
• immune
• system
• disease
• PMAP
• protease
• MAPKK
• Bacillus
• anthracis