Cholera Toxin: An Intracellular Journey into the Cytosol by Way of the Endoplasmic Reticulum
2010
Cholera Toxin: How It Enters Cells
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Wernick Naomi L. B., Chinnapen Daniel J.-F., Cho Jin Ah, Lencer Wayne I.
Primary Institution: Children's Hospital (and Harvard Medical School)
Hypothesis
How does cholera toxin enter host cells and induce toxicity?
Conclusion
Cholera toxin hijacks cellular pathways to enter cells and induce disease without being degraded.
Supporting Evidence
- Cholera toxin binds to GM1 ganglioside to enter host cells.
- It travels through the endoplasmic reticulum to reach the cytosol.
- The A1-chain of cholera toxin is responsible for its toxic effects.
- Cholera toxin avoids degradation by the proteasome after entering the cytosol.
Takeaway
Cholera toxin is like a sneaky thief that tricks cells into letting it in, where it can cause trouble without getting caught.
Methodology
The study reviews the mechanisms of cholera toxin trafficking and retro-translocation to the cytosol.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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