Anthrax-toxin-mediated delivery of a 19 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the cytosol of mammalian cells

Biotechnol Appl Biochem. 2001 Apr;33(2):71-4. doi: 10.1042/ba20000072.

Abstract

PA63, the proteolytically activated 63 kDa fragment of protective antigen (PA, 83 kDa), mediates translocation of lethal factor (LF) and oedema factor into the cytosol. The N-terminal 254 amino acids of LF (LFn) are required for binding to PA63 and mediating translocation of active ligands fused to either the N- or C-terminus. Here we report translocation of a 19 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the cytosol of mammalian cells when fused to the C-terminus of LFn (LFn-19kDa). The fusion protein was non-toxic to J774A.1 macrophage cells in combination with PA and retained the ability to bind to PA63 when incubated with Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells. The data show the efficacy of anthrax toxin to mediate translocation of M. tuberculosis antigens into the cytosol of mammalian cells and may prove useful in delivering proteins and peptides carrying immunodominant mycobacterial antigens into the cytosol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Bacillus anthracis* / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology*
  • Biological Transport
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Cricetinae
  • Cytosol / immunology*
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Cytosol / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • 19 kDa antigen, Mycobacterium
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • anthrax toxin