Membrane association and destabilization by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin requires changes in secondary structures

In this study, we tested this hypothesis by analysing lipid‐induced changes in leukotoxin conformation. Upon incubation of leukotoxin with lipids that favor leukotoxin‐membrane association, we observed an increase in leukotoxin α‐helical content that was not observed with lipids that favor membrane destabilization. The change in leukotoxin conformation after incubation with these lipids suggests that membrane binding and membrane destabilization have distinct secondary structural requirements, suggesting that they are independent events. These studies provide insight into the mechanism of cell damage that leads to disease progression by A. actinomycetemcomitans.

Source: Oral Microbiology and Immunology - May 16, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: M.J. Walters, A.C. Brown, T.C. Edrington, S. Baranwal, Y. Du, E.T. Lally, K. Boesze‐Battaglia Tags: Original Article Source Type: research