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PUBLICATIONS

Anthrax Toxin Functional Assay: Lethal Factor Binding to Protective Antigen Ion Channel

Published

Author(s)

Kelly Halverson, R G. Panchal, T L. Nguyen, S Little, Martin Misakian, Sina Bavari, John J. Kasianowicz

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis secretes three toxins (protective antigen, PA; lethal factor, LF; and edema factor, EF) that are the molecular basis of anthrax-induced cell death. We studied the functional interaction between LF and activated PA (PA63) in planar bilayer membranes using electrophysiology. This practical assay demonstrates that LF binding converts the current-voltage relationship of PA63 from slightly nonlinear to highly rectifying. The data suggest that LF and PA63 form a tight complex (apparent Kd < 50 pM). A PA63 antibody that prevents LF binding demonstrates the efficacy of the PA63-LF functional assay as a screen for anthrax therapeutics.
Citation
Science
Pub Type
Journals

Keywords

anthrax, bioterrorism ion channel, biowarfare, lethal factor, therapeutic screening

Citation

Halverson, K. , Panchal, R. , Nguyen, T. , Little, S. , Misakian, M. , Bavari, S. and Kasianowicz, J. (2021), Anthrax Toxin Functional Assay: Lethal Factor Binding to Protective Antigen Ion Channel, Science (Accessed April 25, 2024)

Created October 12, 2021