Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Detection of Toxin Translocation into the Host Cytosol by Surface Plasmon Resonance
10:41

Detection of Toxin Translocation into the Host Cytosol by Surface Plasmon Resonance

Published on: January 3, 2012

Anthrax toxin receptor proteins

Kenneth A Bradley1, John A T Young

  • 1McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1400 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA. kbradley@microbio.ucla.edu

Biochemical Pharmacology
|January 16, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified the anthrax toxin receptor (ATR), encoded by the TEM8 gene, which is crucial for Bacillus anthracis infection. This discovery opens new avenues for anthrax antitoxin development and cancer research.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • Bacillus anthracis toxin is a critical factor in anthrax pathogenesis.
  • The cellular receptor for anthrax toxin (ATR) was recently identified.
  • ATR is a type I transmembrane protein containing an integrin-like inserted (I) domain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the known information about the anthrax toxin receptor (ATR).
  • To explore the application of ATR knowledge in developing anthrax treatments.
  • To understand the role of ATR in cancer biology.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of the anthrax toxin receptor (ATR).
  • Characterization of the ATR protein structure and function.
  • Investigation of the ATR gene (TEM8) expression patterns.

Main Results:

  • The ATR I domain serves as the toxin binding site.
  • A soluble form of the ATR I domain demonstrated effective antitoxin properties.
  • The TEM8 gene, encoding ATR, is upregulated in tumor vasculature, suggesting a role in angiogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • The identification of ATR provides a target for developing novel anthrax antitoxins.
  • ATR's role in angiogenesis suggests potential applications in cancer therapy.
  • Understanding ATR advances research in anthrax pathogenesis and cancer biology.

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