The 3D Structures of Some Diarrheal Causing Bacterial Toxins
Abstract
Progress in understanding the biological activities of the diarrheal causing staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) at the molecular level now has reached the point where detailed knowledge of their 3D structures is required. Much biochemical data has been accumulated about the SEs, including the amino sequences of several of them. A hotly pursued goal in this field presently is to explain the immunogenic activity of the SEs, in particular, their powerful stimulation of T cell proliferation. The first step in this process involves the formation of a binary complex between these SE and a MHC class II molecule. The latter is situated on the surface of the accessory cell, whose function is to present the binary complex to a V-beta receptor on the T cell surface, where a ternary complex consisting of the binary complex and the V-beta molecule, then forms. T cell proliferation ensues. The process does not occur without the prior formation of the binary complex. Relevant questions about this process remain to be answered at the molecular level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA229119
Entities
People
- Martin Sax
Organizations
- Veterans Administration Medical Center