Translocation-Specific Conformation of Adenylate Cyclase Toxin from Bordetella pertussis Inhibits Toxin-Mediated Hemolysis

Abstract

Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase (AC) toxin belongs to the RTX family of toxins but is the only member with a known catalytic domain. The principal pathophysiologic function of AC toxin appears to be rapid production of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) by insertion of its catalytic domain into target cells (referred to as intoxication). Relative to other RTX toxins, AC toxin is weakly hemolytic via a process thought to involve oligomerization of toxin molecules. Monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3D1, which binds…