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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Analyzing Dynamic Protein Complexes Assembled On and Released From Biolayer Interferometry Biosensor Using Mass Spectrometry and Electron Microscopy
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The protective antigen component of anthrax toxin forms functional octameric complexes.

Alexander F Kintzer1, Katie L Thoren, Harry J Sterling

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA.

Journal of Molecular Biology
|July 25, 2009
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Summary

Anthrax toxin

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Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

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Recombinant Protein Expression, Crystallization, and Biophysical Studies of a Bacillus-conserved Nucleotide Pyrophosphorylase, BcMazG
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Recombinant Protein Expression, Crystallization, and Biophysical Studies of a Bacillus-conserved Nucleotide Pyrophosphorylase, BcMazG

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacterial toxin assembly is crucial for virulence.
  • Regulation of toxin assembly during infection is poorly understood.
  • Anthrax toxin's protective antigen (PA) forms oligomers to deliver toxins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the regulation of bacterial toxin assembly during infection.
  • Characterize the role of different PA oligomeric states in anthrax toxin function.

Main Methods:

  • Single-channel electrophysiology to study PA channel conductance states.
  • Electron microscopy to visualize PA pre-channel oligomers.
  • Mass spectrometry to determine PA octamer stoichiometry and binding partners.
  • X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of the PA octamer.

Main Results:

  • PA forms both heptameric and novel octameric channels.
  • The PA octamer binds four lethal factors (LF).
  • PA octamer is stable in physiological conditions and present on cells.
  • Both PA heptamer and octamer efficiently translocate LF and edema factor (EF).

Conclusions:

  • The PA octamer is a stable, physiological, and active assembly state of anthrax toxin.
  • This octameric assembly may enhance toxin stability in the bloodstream.
  • Understanding PA assembly offers potential targets for controlling bacterial cytotoxicity.