BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTHRAX TOXIN
Abstract
The literature on isolation and purification of anthrax toxin is discussed. The three major components of the toxin, edema factor, protective antigen, and lethal factor, were purified 197-, 156-, and 1025-fold, respectively. The final preparations were all serologically active. Edema factor remained biologically active and produced an edema when mixed with protective antigen; however, lethal factor was no longer lethal when injected in combination with protective antigen. Protective antigen remained immunogenic. Evidence is presented, with toxin produced both in vivo and in vitro, that the individual components and the whole toxin may exist in different aggregate or polymeric forms. Protective antigen and lethal factor were sensitive to hydrogen bond - disrupting reagents, but edema factor was resistant to these reagents. The molecular weight of protective antigen is 60,000 to 100,000. The influence of these data upon the course of future experimentation is discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0811814
Entities
People
- Donald C. Fish
- Ralph E. Lincoln