Globotriaosylceramide, Gb3, is an alternative functional receptor for Shiga-like toxin 2e

Infect Immun. 1995 Mar;63(3):1138-41. doi: 10.1128/iai.63.3.1138-1141.1995.

Abstract

We reexamined the binding specificity of the Shiga-like toxin variant associated with porcine edema disease, SLT2e, which is reported to be more cytotoxic for Vero cells than for HeLa cells, by using receptor-deficient cells and a liposomal insertion system for purified glycolipids. We found that SLT2e preferentially uses globotetraosylceramide as a receptor but can also cause cytotoxicity by using globotriaosylceramide, the SLT2 receptor. We conclude that the differential cytotoxicity of SLT2e on HeLa and Vero cells is a function of both the receptor preference of the toxin and the specific glycolipid content of the target cells being used.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism*
  • CHO Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cricetinae
  • Globosides / metabolism
  • Glycolipids / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Liposomes / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Shiga Toxin 2
  • Trihexosylceramides / metabolism*
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Globosides
  • Glycolipids
  • Liposomes
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Shiga Toxin 2
  • Shiga-like toxin receptor
  • Trihexosylceramides
  • globotetraosylceramide
  • globotriaosylceramide